North America Edition Out Now!

One of the challenges of print magazine production is trying to predict what might happen as your audience picks up the issue. In the case of our North America edition, the year-round nature of this edition makes that prediction even harder. Many of you will be picking up a physical copy of this edition for the first time at a trade show or conference set to happen just before the US November election, so will be just as in the dark as I am about the future result. Even more will be tapping through the pages of our online version, already getting through the content we've put together. But attendees to NISTM Woodlands this December will know what the future looks like – will we be in the throes of a second Trump presidency? Or will the Democrats have gained the first female presidency in Kamala Harris? We’ve attempted to address the uncertainty across this edition, including Wood Mackenzie’s analysis on page 39, but it’s tricky to know what the impact might be as I write this in August 2024. Instead, I want to focus on another notable event that’s been occurring across the American continent. Parts of the USA and Caribbean have been reeling from the impact of Hurricane Beryl – notable terminals such as LBC and Freeport LNG are still working on getting back up to full operations as I type. After a slow start to 2024’s hurricane season, Beryl was a rare June category 5 hurricane and the full extent of the damages is still being measured. So far, the season has led to at least 80 fatalities and at least $5.1 billion (€4.7 billion) in damages – and we’ve got three months left to go. Hurricane Debby is the latest storm to make landfall – a category 1 that has already caused six deaths, and counting. Storage terminals are critical infrastructure at the forefront of these storms. Their often coastal locations are ideal for trading and transport, but can leave them vulnerable to natural disasters. While tanks are built in compliance with specific regulations, it might be time for the industry to start futureproofing assets for new standards. Especially with more extreme weather patterns, we might see different regulations in 10-20 years’ time to accommodate for this. Our exclusive analysis of recent regulations by Earl Crochet (The Tank Whisperer) on page 47 proves just how quickly things are changing. Speaking of change, this year’s North America edition features some very exciting exclusive interviews with terminals keeping up with the energy transition. On page 34, President of Vopak US & Canada, Maria Ciliberti, speaks to us about the company’s growth and sustainability plans. Meanwhile, the ILTA’s new president, Leakhena Swett, explains how the association is better supporting its members with this changed leadership on page 42. But amidst all this change, some staples remain – especially as Tank Storage Magazine gears up to celebrate our 20th birthday in 2025! We have been a stalwart presence in the working lives of many storage terminal professionals, and I’m very excited to spearhead the magazine into the next 20 years. As always, if you have any content to submit, please do get in touch with me – especially if you want to showcase just how much has changed in the last two decades! Best wishes, Anamika