A shipping container for shipping thermally active materials includes a plurality of structural panels that define a container interior, and are configured for receiving the thermally active materials. The container also includes an exterior disposed adjacent to an environment in which the shipping container is disposed. A thermal barrier member is placeable between the thermally active materials and the environment in which the container is placed. The thermal barrier includes a thermal barrier interior panel and a thermal barrier external panel defining a heat absorbing material receiving cavity. A flowable polymer based heat absorbing material is disposed within the heat absorbing material receiving cavity. The thermal barrier is configured to substantially surround the thermally active materials to reduce the passage of thermal energy between the thermally active materials and the environment in which the shipping container is disposed.

An organic composite gas storage tank 100 comprises a hollow central portion 106 which is substantially cylindrical and formed integrally with first and second end portions 102, 104, and which defines a longitudinal tank axis 101. The first end portion 102 comprises a hollow truncated conical region 102A which meets the hollow central portion at a first end thereof, and a cylindrical region 102B which meets an end of the hollow truncated conical portion remote from the hollow central portion. An organic fibre winding 107 extends at least between axial positions which coincide with the hollow truncated conical region of the first end portion and the hollow central portion respectively. A hollow metal end-fitting 120 has a hollow truncated conical portion 124 embedded within the wall of the hollow truncated conical region of the first end portion, providing a long leakage path around the metal end-fitting.