Celebrating 50 Years of North Sea Oil Production
The team at the North Sea Transition Authority takes a look back at the last 50 years of oil production in the North Sea, and what the future of North Sea oil might look like In the 1970s–1980s development in the North Sea began with fixed offshore platforms in shallow waters. Production relied on vertical drilling and primary recovery methods and major fields like Brent (UK) and Ekofisk (Norway) were discovered and developed. Since then, oil production in the North Sea has largely flourished, bringing around 154,000 current UK jobs in the offshore energy sector alone. On top of this, […]
Square Robot: Success in Safety
Vice president of Europe at Square Robot, Chris Carlston, explains how the gold winning SR-3 robotic inspection system is ensuring safe operations at terminals In March 2025, Square Robot’s SR-3 robotic inspection system took home gold for Safety Technology at the Global Tank Storage Awards. Reflecting on the company’s success, Chris Carlston, vice president of Europe at Square Robot, explains that the award has given the company a perfect platform to showcase its new safety innovations. ‘The recognition has opened doors with operators who were previously hesitant to move away from traditional inspection methods. The visibility from the award has […]
Tank Storage Association Responds to UK Government Plans
The UK’s Tank Storage Association shares its reaction to the government’s Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan and what it means for storage terminals On 23 June 2025, the UK government launched its long-awaited and wide-ranging industrial strategy, outlining its plans to drive industrial competitiveness and support innovation over the next decade. The publication follows a consultation launched in October 2024. Against the backdrop of an increasingly complex global economy, the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy focuses on eight core sectors with high growth potential (known as the IS-8), namely advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries, creative industries, defence, digital and technologies, […]
StocExpo Review: 20 Years of Progress
Tank Storage Magazine reflects on the key learnings from another hugely successful StocExpo Storage terminal professionals descended on Rotterdam on 11 & 12 March for StocExpo’s milestone 20th edition. Held during a pivotal time for the global energy sector, StocExpo 2025 delivered an expanded programme featuring brand new conference streams, live technology demonstrations, and exclusive networking opportunities. From alternative fuels to digital transformation and decarbonisation, the event demonstrated the industry’s growing role in shaping the future of energy infrastructure. ‘We are meeting at a time of great change,’ remarked Bruno Hayem, chairman of the Federation of European Tank Storage Associations […]
CTEH: Containing AFFF Runoff & PFAS Risk
Stephen Pepper, senior consultant for PFAS programmes at CTEH, explores ways for storage terminals to stay safe and compliant when managing firewater The management of firewater is an essential and often neglected part of the overall industrial fire protection challenge, especially for facilities using aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) to extinguish flammable liquid fires. Operators of tank storage facilities are under increasing pressure to manage the risks of contamination to the soil and/or groundwater, as the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) are coming under greater regulatory scrutiny due to their persistence in environmental media and […]
CCSA: Seizing the UK’s CCUS Opportunities
Experts from the Carbon Capture & Storage Association explain how the UK’s CCUS market is looking The UK stands on the brink of an industrial transformation. Prime Minister Kier Starmer’s series of energy-related commitments, including the Clean Power 2030 Mission and his COP29 announcement late in 2024, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% from 1990 levels by 2035, show the government’s ambition to reshape the nation’s energy and industrial landscape is clear. Achieving these targets requires bold action, and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) must be at the heart of the transition. Read more: What is […]
UAB Online: Transforming The Digital Landscape
CEO of UAB-Online, Hans Bobeldijk, reflects on the company’s success at the 2025 Global Tank Storage Awards UAB Online was founded in 2010 with a clear mission; to streamline and digitalise communication and operations within the maritime liquid bulk industry. The company has achieved this by creating a global SaaS platform, uniting all stakeholders and making mutual processes safe, efficient and sustainable. ‘UAB-Online started as an announcement platform for inland barges,’ says UAB-Online CEO, Hans Bobeldijk. ‘Over time, we have evolved into a leading communication and collaboration platform that connects terminals, vessels, agents, and surveyors,’ he adds. UAB-Online’s solution was […]
Marathon Petroleum: The Journey To Elite
Dennis Mendenhall, safety manager at Marathon Petroleum explains the rigorous safety culture in the Terminals organisation Marathon Petroleum’s Terminals organisation has recently achieved two consecutive years of record safety performance, as measured by the US government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable incident rate. How did the organisation do it? It stopped, reset and focused its culture. The Why Like many organisations emerging from the pandemic, Marathon Petroleum’s Terminals safety programmes faced challenges. Because of necessary health precautions, the organisation’s ability to hold in-person activities and build personal connections was limited. While safety performance was satisfactory, it wasn’t up […]
Embracing The Digital Age
Anamika Talwaria examines the case for going digital, and the barriers terminal CISOs have to overcome to modernise their sites For many storage terminal facilities, digitalisation and automation are an inevitable future. Such traditional workforces can be resistant to change – especially to processes that are highly regulated and fine-tuned. But stepping into the digital world can bring a raft of benefits; solving workforce challenges while improving efficiency, safety and sustainability – and it can sometimes be the best way to ensure your terminal is complying with environmental regulations. Improving Efficiency ‘Terminal digitalisation and automation provide multifaceted solutions that significantly […]
US Tariffs & The Ripple Effect
Giacomo Prandelli unpacks how US volatility is flipping the script for storage terminals worldwide, and how to turn it into an opportunity Welcome to the wild world of storage terminals, where the US market’s ups and downs keep everyone guessing! If you’re in the business of storing oil, gas, or chemicals, you know one thing for sure: what happens in America doesn’t stay in America. It ripples out, shaking up everything from tank rates to customer demand. With the global storage tank market hitting $20 billion (€18 billion) in 2023 and projected to soar to $35.5 billion (€31 billion) by […]
In Depth: Examining NDT
Kate Rainford speaks to a range of non-destructive testing companies about the essential role it plays at storage terminals Non-Destructive testing (NDT) plays a critical role in ensuring the safety, reliability, and efficiency of materials, components, and systems within storage terminals, where the safe and efficient handling of high-risk materials is crucial. NDT allows for safer, non-invasive inspection of assets. There are various types of NDT inspection methods, and most companies will work across a range of industries with different materials. NDT methods include radiographic inspection, ultrasonic inspection, magnetic particle inspection, liquid penetrant inspection, as well as advanced NDT techniques […]
Chemical Business Association: UK-EU Reset
Tim Doggett, CEO of the Chemical Business Association, explores how Brexit and other challenges have disrupted the chemical supply chain, and what needs to be done to restore trade between the UK and the EU The chemical supply chain is one of the most critically important global industries. Not only does it play a role in the manufacture and distribution of most of the world’s products, but innovation within the industry has led to the development of new materials, medicines, products and processes that continue to deliver enormous benefits across almost every other sector. Indeed, the chemical industry permeates every […]
NeuVentus: Alternative Storage
Sam Porter, CEO, NeuVentus, speaks exclusively to Tank Storage Magazine about the company’s salt caverns storing hydrogen and natural gas in Texas In 2021, as the US Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and began debating Build Back Better (which ultimately became the Inflation Reduction Act), it was clear that, if all of the various policies and incentives for low-carbon hydrogen actually took root, Texas would be ‘in the catbird seat’. With green production, blue production, existing demand, infrastructure and regulatory schemes, a skilled workforce, and a conducive subsurface geology with salt domes, there was nowhere else that […]
GTS: Building For The Future
Jonathan Feys, chief commercial officer at GTS, speaks to Tank Storage Magazine about how the company is preparing for a sustainable future Ghent Transport and Logistics (GTS) is structured into five different business units in the Port of Ghent, Belgium. These five business units work in a range of areas, including liquid and dry bulk storage, trading of waste streams, warehousing linked to car manufacturing, and a venture capital unit focused on biochemical production. Investment For Infrastructure A fairly young terminal facility, GTS began operations in 2010 and now stores around 1.7 million m³ of liquid bulk products. This is […]
Women in Tanks: Traci Johnson
IMTT’s VP for environment, health, safety and security, Traci Johnson, shares her journey from chemical engineering into terminals and leadership Traci Johnson began her terminals career with IMTT as an assistant during her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering. ‘It was the Christmas break of my freshman year, and my dad asked me what I was planning on doing that summer,’ recalls Johnson. ‘Of course, I had no idea.’ Luckily, her father reminded her of an aunt that worked in the HR department at IMTT. Johnson reached out, and was brought on as an assistant – to an assistant – in […]
Storage Terminals: Acting on Defence
FETSA’s executive director Ravi Bhatiani responds to the EU’s latest White Paper and what role the terminals industry has to play in defence In late March, the EU announced a White Paper on Defence, as part of the ReArmEU discussions to increase EU defence readiness for worst case scenarios. In an era of rapid geopolitical shifts, the European Union is stepping up to protect its citizens and strengthen its defence capabilities. Preparedness is key – taking responsibility for our own security means investing in robust defence, safeguarding our people, and ensuring we have the resources to act when needed. The […]
How the ASNT is Leading the Way in Non-Destructive Testing
Clyde May, president of ASNT, explains the association’s core mission and looks to the future of NDT The American Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ASNT) has one clear vision; to make non-destructive testing a highly respected and professional field, recognised globally for its role in creating a safer world. ‘It is a simple statement mission, but it says a lot,’ says Clyde May, president of ASNT. ‘Non-destructive testing (NDT) is something that very few people really know about, but is crucial in day-to-day practices.’ WHAT IS NDT? Despite being a simple concept, NDT can take some explaining. ‘The byline I […]
Lloyd’s Register: Power & Potential
Vassia Sourtzi, senior energy transition specialist at Lloyd’s Register, looks at the factors impacting the global fuel mix The global energy landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as nations grapple with the dual imperatives of meeting rising energy demands and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, global total final energy consumption (TFEC) has increased from 268 EJ (exajoule) in 2000 to just under 380 EJ in 2019, equivalent to a compound annual growth rate over the period of 1.9% per annum. Despite being significantly impacted in the early stages of the global pandemic and falling 4.7% year on year (YoY) in […]
ILTA View: The US Policy Horizon
Jay Cruz, senior director of government affairs and communications at the ILTA examines the policy outlook for the terminals industry under the Trump administration As President Donald Trump and the 119th Congress have settled into office, the legislative landscape for the next two years has taken shape. The current administration is favouring pro-energy policies, and both the International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) and the terminals industry stand ready to support the nation’s increasing liquid energy needs. Founded in 1974, ILTA represents over 70 bulk liquid terminal companies that provide critical infrastructure, storage, and transportation logistics for 1.2 billion barrels of […]
Vopak Deer Park: A Safety-First Culture
Gary Jackson, SHEQ director at Vopak North America, speaks to Kate Rainford about Deer Park Terminal’s safety practices With a capacity of 1,282,512 m³, across 253 tanks, ranging in size from 80,000 barrels to 15,000, Deer Park is the largest of Vopak’s sites in the US and Canada. The terminal stores a range of products, including biofuels, chemicals, petroleum products, base oils and lubricants. Located in Houston, Texas, USA, the terminal offers a variety of services including nitrogen blanketing, ship purging and blanketing, 24-hour tank car switching, blending, circulation and marine lightering capabilities. The expansive scale of this facility calls […]
SGB: Preventing Explosions Of Vapour-Air-Mixtures
Discover the importance of leak monitoring; especially when storing methanol SGB DLG application for Verbio SE in Bitterfeld, Germany. Here with a manifold for three underground tanks Operators of systems with materials hazardous to water are obligated to verify the leak tightness of the system and to routinely monitor the functional capability of the safety systems, pursuant to effective regulations and laws. These safety systems include leak detectors. They are used in double-walled tanks as well as double-walled pipes, in which hazardous liquids, such as petrol, heating oil, acids and bases, are stored. Methanol is one such water-polluting liquid. And […]
Resilium: You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Understand
Resilium explains how to combat tank overfilling scenarios through gamification The events of 11 December 2005 were foreseeable. Like all tank storage facilities, Buncefield was vulnerable to a well-known (and arguably obvious) threat of tank overfill. The Incident Report after the event listed similar events (loss of containment of flammable gasoline) as far back as 1962 and the Investigation Report for the incident at CAPECO in October 2009 similarly listed comparable overfill events. In 2004 (before Buncefield), the IChemE and BP published ‘Safe Tank Farms and (Un)loading Operations’ which is part of a collection of booklets, describing how to manage hazards, […]
Women in Tanks: Carin van Straten-Lagerberg
Carin van Straten-Lagerberg, senior sales manager at Vopak Netherlands, shares her passion for supporting a sustainable future in tank storage Carin van Straten-Lagerberg, senior sales manager at Vopak Netherlands After working within commercial trading operations at Shell for almost 16 years, Carin van Straten-Lagerberg decided it was time for a change. ‘I was on the customer side for a long time, and I wanted to explore the commercial side from a service providing angle instead,’ she recalls. ‘Vopak is an esteemed company, and one of the largest independent storage providers. Famous for its tanks, infrastructure, complex operations and large amount […]
VTTV: Longevity In The Mediterranean
As VTTI celebrates 10 years of operations at its terminal in Cyprus, managing director, and vice president for the Mediterranean region, Thanos Patrikis, looks back at some of the highlights from the last decade Thanos Patrikis, managing director at VTTV A core part of VTTI’s network is its terminal in Cyprus, also known as VTTV. Located in the Eastern Mediterranean, VTTV is the first and one of the largest energy storage and distribution terminals in Cyprus’ Vasiliko region. The initial private investment from VTTI to start up the terminal was nearly €300 million, the largest foreign direct investment in Cyprus’ […]
Cashco: Advancing AST Protection
As facilities seek robust solutions to protect their storage systems, advancements in protective equipment and engineering methodologies are playing a crucial role in ensuring operational integrity, says Cashco The tank storage industry continues to evolve with a growing emphasis on safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Pressure and vacuum management are critical aspects of maintaining the structural integrity of tank storage systems. Industry providers such as Cashco offer a range of specialised products designed to safeguard storage facilities from excessive pressure fluctuations and environmental hazards. Key components commonly used in these safeguarding systems include: Pressure & vacuum relief valves Emergency relief […]
Port Tarragona: Sustainability & Challenges
Genoveva Climent, Port Tarragona’s commercial & business development director shares stories from three bulk liquid storage companies operating in this Spanish energy hub Tepsa Iberia’s solar panels Sustainability and challenge are two words that go hand in hand; even more so in these uncertain times in which we are living. Sustainability has become a key concept in our day-to-day lives, and the strategies and projects that are currently being defined revolve around this principle. Nevertheless, it is not an easy road; quite the opposite in fact. Implementing sustainability in port operations and the industrial sector in general involves confronting a […]
ETFuels: Charting The Course
As FuelEU Maritime regulations come into full force this year, Lara Naqushbandi, CEO of e-fuels developer ETFuels, looks at what the industry needs to know, and how best to prepare Lara Naqushbandi, CEO of ETFuels FuelEU Maritime has come into effect this year, yet few in the marine industry have really thought through the implications it is going to have on the shipping industry. As one of the earliest e-fuels developers to look at the space, with a portfolio of e-methanol projects under development in the US and Europe, ETFuels has spent the last three years immersed in the e-fuels […]
Voovio: Can Digital Twins Solve Workforce Challenges?
Bas Janssen from Voovio looks at the benefits and limitations of digital twin technology solutions in the storage terminal indsutry The terminal industry has greatly benefited from software and technology solutions that enhance terminal management through predictive maintenance and operational efficiency. However, these terminals still require skilled workers for operation and maintenance. The industry struggles with attracting and retaining talent, losing expertise due to retirements, and upskilling workers efficiently. Digital twins have been instrumental in terminal management but remain underutilised for workforce competency building. Digital Twins of the Person (DToP) provide an inclusive solution by enabling training and competency measurement […]
Gizil: Smarter & Safer Storage
Gizil explains how its Virtual Plant is revolutionising safety procedures at terminals In the terminal sector, safety is paramount, yet the industry face a persistent and growing challenge, human error. This issue, deeply rooted in the traditional nature of the industry, is exacerbated by a generational workforce shift, leaving companies struggling to maintain safety standards and operational efficiency. Knowledge Gaps And Human Error As experienced employees retire, they take decades of institutional skills with them, creating a significant knowledge gap. Younger, less-qualified workers stepping into these roles often lack the tools, training, and experience necessary to navigate the complexities of […]
UAB-Online: 4 Key Ways To Boost Terminal Efficiency
UAB-Online addresses the key pain points in maritime operations Efforts to enhance operational efficiency in port and terminal processes within the maritime industry are yielding benefits for stakeholders and simultaneously reducing demurrage claims. In UAB-Online’s experience as a software solution provider, the company has witnessed firsthand the improvements possible when the complete process of the pre-arrival administration and handling of inland and seagoing vessels becomes digitised. However, at many ports and terminals, less-than-optimal processes are still in place, and there are common problems that repeatedly occur. UAB-Online has identified four pain points, typically seen in traditional port and terminal operations, […]
Reducing Emissions From Storage Tank & Loading Operations
Peter Kerkhof, director at EEMUA, explains how to reduce vapour emissions when storing and handling volatile products When storing volatile products in storage tanks, there are a number of situations which may result in the emissions of vapours. These may be either standing emissions or emissions when filling a tank. When you load a truck or ship, the vapours from the storage c Peter Kerkhof, director at EEMUA ompartments are pushed out. The hydrocarbon emissions (volatile organic components or VOCs) from storage and loading operations is 30-60% of the total off all industry-generated emissions. This raises a number of questions: […]
Etasca: Future-Proofing Terminals For The Changing Environment
Following his talk at StocExpo, Andrew Inglis, director at Etasca, identifies and comments on the primary market developments impacting demand for bulk liquid storage and how terminals can respond Tank terminals are accustomed to responding to cyclical changes in market demand and trade flows for the products they handle. Historically, these fluctuations have been driven by macroeconomic changes and/or geopolitical disruptions – such as the current war in Ukraine. However, the energy transition is ushering in significant structural changes in refined product consumption, trade flows, and storage demand. These market changes will accelerate in the coming years, presenting both opportunities […]
