We strive to list only quality surplus equipment. Accordingly, almost all vessels listed in our database are tagged and coded. Coded means the vessel carries a "U" stamp and was built according to the standards and specifications defined by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Not all vessels are ASME coded and may not comply with ASME standards and should be avoided. Vessels that are missing their tags, whether lost or removed, should also be avoided. If you don’t see a tag with a clear image of the ASME stamp, please ask, and we’ll strive to obtain a picture from the vessel’s owner. Here is a quick explanation of the most common ASME stamps:

 

Vessel was manufactured following the standards set forth for Section VIII Division 1 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. For vessels up to 3,000# psi. For further info see http://www.absa.ca/faq/SectionVIIIcomparison.pdf.

  Vessel was manufactured following the alternative standards set forth for Section VIII Division 2, by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. For further info see http://www.absa.ca/faq/SectionVIIIcomparison.pdf

  Vessel was manufactured following the standards for high pressure vessels set forth for Section VIII Division 3, by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Typically for vessels rated 10,000# psi or higher. For further info see http://www.absa.ca/faq/SectionVIIIcomparison.pdf

In addition to applicable ASME stamps, many vessels have a National Board number. The number indicates the vessel was registered with the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors by the manufacturer. Registrations means a report, commonly called a “U1A”, can be obtained at a nominal cost for review before purchase.

   Like the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the National Board issues vessel stamps. The most common one seen is the “R” stamp and indicates the vessel was repaired or altered according to the standards set forth by National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors.

• Maximum working pressure and working temperature
• Year of Manufacture
• Name of Manufacturer
• National Board number or drawing number (if available)
• Any ASME and National Board stamps
  

How To Inspect Before Buying
Before buying surplus equipment, review available pictures. If we don’t have pictures for a particular item, ask us to get them – usually we can. This is the most common form of pre-inspection that customers use, but other, more detailed inspections are available.

As mentioned earlier, if a vessel is registered with the National Board it will have a National Board number on or near the tag. The number, combined with the Manufacturer’s name and Year of Manufacture (YoM), provides enough information to obtain a copy of the vessel’s U1A report for a fee (which goes to the National Board, not us). The U1A is an important document to review since it lists the materials used when the vessel was built, as well as openings and their dimensions. Be aware that not all manufacturers register their vessels.

Some vessel manufacturers provide drawing numbers (most notably, Natco) and we can often obtain a copy for a nominal cost. If available, drawings are helpful in determining if a vessel will meet your needs, but cannot be used to determine a vessel’s current condition.

All vessels and surplus equipment we list and sell is sold "as is, where is". This means that it is your responsibility to ensure the vessel meets your requirements before purchase.

If you wish to pre-inspect a vessel, or have someone else do so, we will make every effort to help you. All costs for pre-inspections must be paid by you, whether you purchase the vessel or not. Some types of pre-inspection are very expensive and can be difficult to obtain, others, like pictures and specific questions, have no cost at all. Spending $5,000 to inspect a $10,000 vessel may not make much fiscal sense, but spending that much for a $100,000 vessel surely may. We can help you arrange most of the inspections below:

• Detailed questions about specific items like:
  • Has the vessel been cleaned out?
  • Does it pass NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) testing?
  • How are the flanges (pitted or smooth)?
  • Any obvious pitting inside?
  • If it has a manway, does it have a manway cover?
• Onsite external and internal visual inspection
• Review the U1A report and/or drawings, if available
• Ultrasound Testing (used to check for pitting, moderately expensive)
• National Board inspection (to ensure vessel is still “in code”, expensive)
• Hydro-testing (pressure testing, expensive)
• X-raying (used to check for cracks in welds and shell, very expensive)

"Where is" means you’ll be charged for loading and transportation. We do not add any markup to the transportation charge and can arrange transportation for you, or you may do so.

Payment
We do not accept credit cards. We do accept Paypal for holding deposits but usually not for the entire payment since Paypal is very expensive. For first-time and overseas buyers, pre-payment is required. If you have been in business for at least two years, request a NET 30 Credit Application and we will e-mail it to you – send your request to Sales@MtnEquip.com or call us 800-530-4197.