News bulletin – tanks and logistics

NEWS BULLETIN

TANKS & LOGISTICS

NW THE PICK FOR BP

Nijhof Wassink is to take over fuel distribution and transport planning for BP Netherlands as from 1 September 2021. Nijhof Wassink has been working with BP for the past 18 months, deploying two tank trailer units to distribute fuel to BP’s 350 service stations in the country.

‘This fantastic new order is wonderful recognition for our Fuel Distribution Department,” says Bertil Bouwhuis, managing director of Nijhof Wassink’s chemical logistics division. “Our specialism in transporting chemical products and extensive experience in fuel distribution have had a positive influence on this cooperation with BP Nederland. The recognition we have by receiving this assignment is a great compliment for our people in planning, the safety support team and our ‘business cards’ - the drivers who represent us.

“By outsourcing both the transport and the planning ensures that the journeys to and from our petrol stations are planned more efficiently,” Bouwhuis adds. This allows us to reduce CO2 emissions even more. Our strong focus on safety and sustainability is a good fit to the ambitions of BP to deliver energy in a safe, respectful and sustainable way.” nijhofwassink.com

ALBATROSS IN INDIA

Albatross Tank-Leasing has set up a representative office in Gujarat, India to cover south Asia and the Middle East, regions that Albatross believes will offer long-term opportunities for special tanks, including T50 gas tank containers. Albatross can offer tank containers ex depot in India on short notice, with sufficient flexibility to help its customers handle rapidly changing market conditions. The company is developing a domestic leasing platform, due online in second quarter 2021.

“Our local presence is giving customer full access to our service structure and will ensure timeliness response to any technical, commercial or operational inquiries,” the company says. “Apart from leasing of the tank containers, customer can choose between a variety of service elements which can be added to provide technical and operational support if and when required to ensure an efficient and cost-effective fleet management.” albatross-tanks.de

DEN HARTOGH IN DUMAI

Den Hartogh Asia Pacific has opened up a new route out of Indonesia, having worked closely with the port authority in Dumai, Sumatra to allow direct export of tank containers for international shipments. This avoids the need to customers in the region, a major palm oil production area, to truck their output more than 600 km to the port of Belawan.

“Our customers are now able to enjoy a higher level of safety, operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness,” the company says. A brief video outlining the new service is available on the Den Hartogh website. www.denhartogh.com

MORE CHLORALKALI FOR UNIVAR

Univar Solutions has reached a strategic agreement with PVS Chloralkali, under which Univar will take over PVS’s rail cars in Ohio, Illinois and Virginia and its sourcing agreements for hydrochloric acid. Univar will now be a strategic provider of hydrochloric acid for PVS, which manages chlorides used in the production of finished steel throughout North America.

“PVS remains active and growing throughout all of its products and markets. This agreement strengthens PVS’s hydrochloric acid business by allowing the company to focus on where we maximise value for our customers,” says David Nicholson, president/CEO of PVS Chemicals, parent of PVS Chloralkali.

“This agreement further expands Univar Solutions’ large and robust network for its

hydrochloric acid business in North America,” says Joe Serna, vice-president, bulk chemical distribution for Univar Solutions. “We’re very pleased to increase our sourcing capabilities and logistics infrastructure to enhance our presence as a top hydrochloric acid provider benefitting customers throughout North America.” www.univarsolutions.com

MORE IN MOERDIJK

Frans de Wit is extending the range of services it provides at its Moerdijk facility in the Netherlands, having obtained a permit for the intermediate storage of tank containers containing waste materials. “This enables us to serve customers with a demand for intermediate storage of their waste products and completes our ability to transport waste in bulk,” the company says.

In addition, Frans de Wit is currently developing a new installation for the heating of acrylic acid in tanks. There is a very small margin between the desired carriage and handling temperature and the point at which acrylic acid will polymerise and standard heating procedures using steam or hot water are considered unsafe. Frans de Wit is currently trialling its new system and expects to have it up and running commercially within a few weeks. www.fransdewit.nl

OMNI COMPOSITES NOW IN THE US

Omni Tanker has launched its innovative carbon-composite tank truck trailer design in

OMNI TANKER HAS INTRODUCED ITS COMPOSITE TANK CRFP tank containers, also newly launched in the US. omnitanker.com

the US. The tanks have been in use in Omni’s home market of Australia since 2006 and feature a unique and internationally patented construction that involves a carbon fibrereinforced polymer (CRFP) exterior tank bonded to a seamless thermoplastic interior tank.

The result is an exceptionally light but robust and safe tank suitable for the transport of Class 8 corrosive chemicals, with a weight saving that allows an increase in payload of 8 to 10 per cent. Omni Tanker says the product is safer because the CRFP outer shell is six times stronger than steel, while the tank is significantly lighter than a traditional steel tank or even a fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) tank, as commonly found in the US.

The launch took place at the start of October at the headquarters of All Chemical Transport in New Jersey, one of the first US customers for the design. The event was also attended by the Australian ambassador to the US and by Eurotainer, which is already operating Omni’s

MILKYWAY BUILDS ITS NETWORK

Shanghai-based Milkyway Chemical Supply Chain Service has, in partnership with Chengdu Xiongfeng Investment, acquired a 60 per cent shareholding in Sichuan Xiongrui Logistics, which it says has greatly improved distribution activities in the Sichuan and Chongqing region of China.

Xiongrui Logistics has a broad range of service offerings, including the road transport of dangerous goods, chemical warehousing, international freight forwarding, cold storage and other specialities. Milkyway says its team has a lot of experience in the chemical logistics sector, with long-term customer relationships across its network in Chengdu, Chongqing, Luzhou, Hangzou, Xi’an, Guangzhou and elsewhere.

Xiongrui Logistics will now be renamed Milkyway Xiongfeng Logistics and be fully integrated into the Milkyway management system, strengthening its national distribution network and improving response times for customers.

Milkyway has also acquired Ningbo Dowchain Logistics, which was formed only in September 2019 with a focus on chemical transport and international freight forwarding. Dowchain’s team came from logistics operations in multinational and state-owned chemical groups. www.mwclg.com