Making inspections faster and easier

The experts at Skygauge explain why drone inspections are the future Storage tanks, particularly those constructed to the API 650 or API 12C standard, are difficult and dangerous to inspect. The tanks are at minimum 50 ft (15.24 m) tall, and require thickness inspections on 40-60 points every five to ten years. Traditionally, these inspections are done by hand with a certified inspector scaling the structure using ropes, a crane or scaffolding, and manually conducting a spot thickness UT test. Using an inspection drone, such as one from Skygauge Inspections, modernises this process, improving safety, quality, convenience, cost, and time. […]
Modern foam for safer fire suppression

David Garris, firefighting foam agent & hardware product manager, at Johnson Controls explains how its new non-fluorinated foam has proven effective for large tank fire suppression Alcohol-resistant aqueous film-forming foam (AR-AFFF) has been the standard for delivering rapid control and extinguishment of large, flammable liquid storage tank fires. As foam technologies evolved, a new class of non-fluorinated products was introduced but struggled to deliver the performance of traditional AR-AFFFs – until now. Recent advancements have resulted in non-fluorinated foam solutions that perform similar to legacy foams. The latest industry innovation is the new Thunderstorm WNF33A 3×3 foam concentrate, part of […]
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Standic

Molly Cooper speaks to Paul Voogt, CCO and commercial director at Standic about the chemical terminal’s activities and future expansions Standic offers tailor-made solutions for the storing of biofuels, base oils, lubricants, marine fuels and chemicals. ‘Standic is made up of three terminals in the Netherlands and Belgium. The two chemical terminals are located in Dordrecht and Antwerp and since January 1 of this year, our sister company, Haan Oil Storage, became Standic Oil Storage in Dordrecht,’ says Paul Voogt CCO and commercial director at Standic. The terminals in Dordrecht were originally constructed at the end of the 1950s and […]
Opportunities for tank storage in the hydrogen economy

Nick Waple, senior engineer at Wood Plc, gives Tank Storage Magazine an exclusive preview of his talk at the Hydrogen Technology Expo and how this relates to tank storage professionals The offshore pipeline industry is facing some key challenges when it comes to transporting hydrogen at high pressures. This includes: What a new hydrogen pipeline will look like in terms of specification and testing requirements Pathways in repurposing existing pipelines for hydrogen The latest hydrogen pipeline design methodologies following an Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA) approach combining material test data, defect sizing and design loads Many aspects of the challenges foreseen […]
The key to success for data integrity

Cesar Espinoza and Veronica Dominguez at Rosen USA break down the essentials for ensuring smooth and effective data management and integrity Data management refers to the process of collecting, organising and storing large amounts of data in such a way that it can be useful and easy to access, navigate, and analyse. Facilities owners and operators now have more access to mechanical integrity data than ever before. As technology continues to advance, data will become increasingly accessible. On the other hand, the challenges of working with large volumes of data, and the need for automated systems to manage it, will […]
Join AntwerpXL 2023 for countless business opportunities

AntwerpXL, the world’s only event dedicated exclusively to breakbulk, project cargo and heavy lift, will be full of opportunities to network and do business when it opens its doors from 28 – 30 November 2023. There will be a series of networking opportunities and bonding activities at this year’s AntwerpXL, kicking off with an opening ceremony on the first day. On the morning of day two, delegates will have the opportunity to participate in the 53rd BUSINESSRUN to AntwerpXL, a great way to tour Antwerp on foot while networking with likeminded people. Also on day two, all project cargo owners […]
Exclusive interview: V-Tank Storage SA

Tank Storage Magazine speaks to it’s Autumn edition front cover sponsor, V-Tank Storage SA, about its global sites. ‘We are an independent storage company for bulk liquid products, focused on the marketing, renting in and renting out storage capacity at bulk liquid terminals,’ says Ulf Vleeshouwers founder, chairman and CEO of V-Tank Storage SA. With more than 52 years of experience in the bulk liquid storage sector, Vleeshouwers has been a vital part of the industry for decades. ‘After having worked for Paktank, Van Ommeren (now Vopak), Nordic Tank Storage, Nordic Storage and InterTank, I had the idea to start […]
Editor’s Note: Autumn 2023

It’s been a while since the last full magazine edition landed, so let me remind you of the high quality content you can enjoy. This issue has our annual Chemical Storage supplement, which you can find on page 50. Inside is an exclusive interview with Stolthaven Singapore, centring on the facility’s Dow SEA S4TAR Award win. There’s also updates from the Chemical Business Association about creating a safe and sustainable supply chain, plus Cepsa Quimica offers insight into its range of sustainable chemical products. Throughout the rest of the magazine, you’ll find an exclusive interview with one of 2023’s Global […]
Case study: How a successful software implementation rendered great dividends

The Rosen Group shares a successful case study of its software implementation Rosen’s case study corresponds to a worldwide leader in energy storage and hydrocarbons movement, committed to drive a revolutionary business model. This company owns and operates tanks and terminal facilities in multiple locations in the world with an estimated total product storage and handling capacity exceeding 60 million barrels. Their business model strive for shorter turnaround times and product blending at lower operating costs, compared to other terminals in the regions they operate. At the earlier times, asset management did not seem to be an exhaustive task to […]
Hydrogen key to energy transition, say industry experts at Gastech 2023

The second day of Gastech 2023 has drawn to a close, with high-level participation from policymakers and business leaders from over 100 countries, enabling significant progress on the path to net zero. Discussions from the second day focused on how the global energy industry can help tackle crucial challenges, such as identifying the best means of unlocking investment in energy projects and advancing hydrogen production. From sessions on LNG as a driver of energy security in Asia, to industry action on methane emissions reduction, participants explored both policy and technical considerations for natural gas, LNG, and hydrogen as accelerators of […]
Are you ready for our Autumn edition?

Welcome back from the summer! The Tank Storage Magazine team has been busy over the last few months putting together some very exciting content for all our members to enjoy. We’re opening up some of our exclusive scoops to give you all a taster of what you can expect when you join our community. Free Members can expect a round-up of the latest news, an exclusive interview with Vopak’s Alexander Fokker, and an update on a selection of key tank terminal expansion projects. Upgrade now for instant access to the full digital magazine, including: Exclusive interviews with Odfjell Terminals Korea and Stolthaven Terminals […]
Project Cargo Summit: Managing digital, political and environmental demands

Project Cargo Summit 2023 is back to its normalised format. As the project cargo and breakbulk industries returned to a more normal way of operating, the Summit itself is moving back from the digital platforms to a physical setting. With around 100 industry experts gathered in a single spot, it is prime time to discuss the major issues the industry is facing and suggest potential solutions. This year’s Project Cargo Summit is all about managing digital, political and environmental demands. The industry will converge in Bremen on September 6-7 to discuss the issues, and solutions and to network as well. […]
AntwerpXL 2023: Breakbulk conference shaping up to be ‘unmissable’

The conference at AntwerpXL, the world’s only event dedicated exclusively to breakbulk, project cargo and heavy lift, and is fast becoming a must-attend for industry professionals. Returning to Belgium this November, AntwerpXL’s conference will cover the most pressing global themes with talks from the industry’s leading lights. Day one features sessions including: Project Cargo – Managing the offshore renewable boom Ports – Being a one-stop-shop for breakbulk Sustainability – Decarbonising heavy lift Current Market – How geopolitics is impacting the supply chain On the panel discussing the management of offshore renewables will be Neil Golding, Head of Market Intelligence at […]
Gastech 2023 to Showcase Climate-Focused Innovations on the Road to Net-Zero

Climate technologies are driving down emissions, safeguarding future energy supplies, and advancing the cause of a just energy transition in the developing world. According to estimates from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, they could reduce global CO₂ emissions by 40%. Climate technology is a critical component of the world’s decarbonisation efforts and, in recognition of this, Gastech 2023 has expanded to include a dedicated Climatetech exhibition and conference programme, which will bring together established energy players, policy analysts, investors, and Big Tech. As investor enthusiasm for climate technologies remains strong, and the wave of policy incentivisation continues, Gastech 2023’s Climatetech zone […]
How To Detect And Prevent Costly Steam Trap Leaks And Blockages

Steam Traps, common yet essential components in the process industry, are too often prone to failure, leading to wasted energy and increased costs. To prevent these issues, steam traps must be monitored regularly to detect and address malfunctions. Traditional steam trap monitoring methods involve manual inspection and testing, which can be time-consuming, labour-intensive, and, unfortunately, prone to human error. This use case, built on TWTG’s industrial experiences with Steam Trap Monitoring, considers the challenges of traditional monitoring methods, and analyses how recent technological advancements have opened up the possibility of achieving a complete digital monitoring overview. To demonstrate these technological […]
Q3 Heavy Lift Successfully Transports 190-tonne Silos in Botlek Harbour Area

Regular readers will know that, as of February 2023, the Aluchemie plant in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has been closed – so it needs to be dismantled. The silos on location had been operational until the end of 2022, and now needed to be transported to their new home. It was just the job for the teams of Van der Goes Groep, Kraanbedrijf Nederhoff, Q3 Heavy Lift, Autokrane Schares GmbH and Bonn & Mees. The oil and gas industry is well-known territory for Q3 Heavy Lift. The company has been involved in on-site logistics for many projects, from building new facilities […]
WSG Sells Well Intervention Division for New Energy Services

WSG has sold its Well Intervention division and will use the funds raised to lay the foundations for a period of international expansion for the rebranded WSG Energy Services (WSGES). In a major reorganisation, WSGES has divested its traditional Well Intervention offering – including coil tubing and slickline services – and will now focus on growing its market share in process, pipeline and industrial services (PPIS). There are no redundancies aspects to the deal. The Netherlands-headquartered business retains its global footprint with a strong presence in the UK, mainland Europe, Asia and Australia, and its next objective is to establish […]
Major Names On Board for AntwerpXL 2023

The biggest names in breakbulk, project cargo and heavy lift will be exhibiting at AntwerpXL when it returns to the Antwerp Expo on 28-30 November 2023. It’s fitting that an event hosted at the home of breakbulk will feature suppliers from around the world and across the entire breakbulk supply chain. Cargo owners and carriers, ports, freight forwarders and a host of shipping, maritime and supply chain experts will be showcasing their products, services and latest innovations at the three-day event. Major names already signed up include C.Steinweg, Conti-Lines, Grimaldi Group, MSC, Spliethoff, Fednav, BBC Chartering, Konecranes, Varamar, and Zuidnatie. […]
Gevo Joins With McDermott for SAF

Gevo has entered into a master services agreement (MSA) with a subsidiary of McDermott to provide front end engineering and early planning services for Gevo’s development of multiple sustainable aviation fuel facilities in North America. The first facility, Net-Zero 1, is expected to be located near Lake Preston, South Dakota. The Net-Zero 1 plant is expected to produce up to 65 million gallons (246,000 m3) of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), diesel, renewable gasoline that, when consumed, is designed to have a lifecycle net-zero greenhouse gas footprint. Under the scope of the MSA, McDermott will provide engineering, execution planning and pricing […]
AntwerpXL Opens Nominations for 40 Under 40

AntwerpXL is once again looking for the top forty breakbulk, project cargo and heavy lift professionals under the age of 40. XL 40 Under 40 celebrates young professionals who have either achieved greatness already or have the potential to become the next generation of industry leaders. Breakbulk and heavy lift pros are encouraged to nominate themselves, their colleagues and their peers if they are under the age of 40 and have made, or will make, significant contributions to the sector. Nominations will be open throughout the summer, then a panel of industry experts will decide who will make AntwerpXL’s official […]
Applus UK joins EEMUA as Associate

Applus UK’s tank inspection team has allowed it to become the newest member of EEMUA’s Associate Scheme. The Applus team has wide experience in the field of storage tank testing and inspection and assisting tank owners to optimise their inspection intervals based on detailed inspection data and the application of remaining-life and RBI principles. The team’s tank inspectors are supported by tank engineers who provide specialist advice relating to storage tank inspection, repair, modification, and maintenance. One key area of EEMUA’s activity is helping its members, and the wider industry, in all aspects of the design, inspection, maintenance and repair […]
Updates from Petrochemical Global Logistics Convention

Tank Storage Magazine’s marketing executive, Shannon Maguire, shares her key takeaways from the PGLC conference The Petrochemical Global Logistics Convention (PGLC), jointly presented by UMF Marseille and Tankbank Singapore, recently took place in Marseille, France, on 22-23 June 2023. Set against the backdrop of the historic Marseille Chamber of Commerce Building, the convention hosted industry-led panels, insightful discussions, and valuable networking opportunities. The Role of Petrochemicals: Key Insights from Paul Hickin The convention kicked off with a thought-provoking session led by Paul Hickin, an esteemed figure from Petroleum Economist. Hickin emphasised the enduring importance of petrochemicals, even amidst the […]
FETSA nominates Rubis CEO as president

Bruni Hayem, CEO of Rubis Terminal and chairman of USI in France has been nominated as president for FETSA. ‘Safety is in our DNA and is a cornerstone of the tank storage sector. Being a member of FETSA allows us to share our best practices across Rubis Terminal’s locations. As chairman, I will be able to advocate our common vision of the future of our industry in Brussels: ensuring the safest working environment, facilitating the storage of sustainable products, liquids, and gases, minimising greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, and securing the supply chain in Europe,’ says Hayem. FETSA represents […]
Tank Storage Association posts annual review

The Tank Storage Association (TSA) has published its 2023 Annual Review of the UK’s bulk storage and energy infrastructure sector. Peter Davidson, Executive Director of the Tank Storage Association, says: ‘I am pleased to launch the eighth edition of TSA’s Annual Review. The publication continues to serve as a key reference tool for the tank storage industry and beyond.’ Published since 2015, the annual publication continues to provide a broad range of statistics and valuable insights on terminals, process safety, occupational health and safety as well as the industry’s contribution to the UK economy. ‘In addition to valuable industry data […]
Our new community is LIVE

You may have noticed something different around here… We’ve launched a brand new website with the aim of becoming the tank storage sector’s leading community platform. You’ll find the new website is much easier to navigate, but is packed with the same great content you’ve come to expect from us. That includes daily breaking news, exclusive online articles, and even more video content than usual. In order to access the same great content as usual, you’ll need to log in. If you find your existing username and password does not work, follow the instruction below. Can’t log in? You’ll need […]
Sherwin Williams announce new Heat-Flex CUI coatings

Sherwin-Williams Protective and Marine has announced its new line of Heat-Flex CUI-mitigation coatings to help mitigate the dangerous condition of corrosion under insulation (CUI). The line includes Heat-Flex ACE (advanced CUI epoxy), which is an ultra-high-solids epoxy novolac developed with a functional chemical enhancement for CUI mitigation. In addition, three coatings featuring a high concentration of micaceous iron oxide (MIO) pigment round out the lineup, including Heat-Flex 750, Heat-Flex 1200 Plus and Heat-Flex 650. Mark Rubio, energy business manager at Sherwin-Williams says: ‘The battle against CUI is never-ending, as coated steel encapsulated in insulation will inevitably corrode over time. Our […]
Koole Terminals implements UAB-Online barge solution

The process excellence & innovation team at Koole Terminals has successfully introduced a barge portal with UAB-Online at Koole Tankstorage Botlek (KTB) in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Bob Möhlmann, process excellence & innovation consultant, speaks enthusiastically about the process: ‘KTB opted for a complete integration with its own IT systems, eliminating the need for manual data entry by our colleagues. Now, documents are exchanged automatically for digital signing and storage, while operational critical times are logged automatically. This groundbreaking integration makes KTB the first terminal worldwide to implement this advanced level of integration. As a result, our colleagues can now devote […]
Voliro teams up with MFE Inspection Solutions

MFE Inspection Solutions, a leading provider of advanced inspection technology, has announced a new partnership with Voliro. The advanced Voliro T drone combines omnidirectional capabilities with the ability to exert significant force and torque to structures, opening up new dimensions of manoeuvrability in any orientation, height, or location. The Voliro T drone stands out for its reliability and stability, even in the most challenging environments. It uses thrust-vectoring and 6DoF control to achieve this. Equipped with semi-autonomous flight modes and sophisticated pilot assistance, the Voliro T ensures safe and effortless navigation even in environments where GPS is unavailable, making it […]
StocExpo: The Best Yet!

Find out what happened at the industry’s leading trade event: StocExpo.On 14-16 March in Rotterdam, the Tank Storage Magazine team, along with organiser Easyfairs, held the StocExpo conference and exhibition. The leading event brought together a whole host of terminal professionals and industry experts looking to connect with each other and share exciting new innovations.A year of firstsWith fresh branding to represent the energy transition and future fuels, this year’s StocExpo kicked off with a terminal tour of Koole Terminals’ leading Tankstorage Botlek facility in the Port of Rotterdam. Led by a representative from the port, a group of VIP […]
Re-Gen Robotics: No-Man Entry Tank Cleaning Solutions

Re-Gen Robotics’ no-man entry tank cleaning service provides huge logistics, cost and risk benefits for tank owners.Tank cleaning is required at oil terminals as part of their ongoing maintenance programmes, generally every three to five years, or to undertake specialist tasks, such as changing product in the tank, decommissioning, assessing contamination, structural defects, and corrosion.SLUDGE AND SEDIMENT Sludge and sediment removal is a necessary operation that operators of oil storage facilities, refineries and processing plants manage as part of their facilities’ maintenance procedures.Sludge and sediment can mount up in oil storage tanks in various ways. When the oil inside tanks is […]
Re-Gen Robotics: Faster, Smarter, Safer

Regularly assessing tanks is imperative to maintain terminal safety and is driving demand for robotic cleaning solutions says Aidan Doherty, MD of Re-Gen Robotics.Failures and incidents at oil terminals can have extensive consequences for the environment and human health. When considering the cost of repairs, closure, remediation, claims and loss of share value, it can lead to a much higher impact for an oil terminal facility. It is easier for the companies involved to invest and ensure a proper level of safety to prevent adverse incidents from happening.ASSET INTEGRITYAsset integrity is a key element in maintaining process safety. It involves […]
Olivia Energy: Alleviating Congestion in Cadiz

Olivia Energy Group tells Tank Storage Magazine about the expansion of its Puerto Real Terminal in Cádiz, Spain.Initially built in 2008, Olivia Energy Group’s terminal in Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain represents a highly strategic location. While it’s a local storage company, Olivia Energy Group is focused on global trade, so being situated in one of the five main global shipping lanes is crucial to its business. Being ‘glocal’ is essential.INCREASING CAPACITYOlivia Energy decided to expand the 30,000m3 Puerto Real terminal as the market demand was far outstripping its current capacity. Olivia Energy was experiencing an increased demand for physical trading activities on […]