News bulletin – tanks and logistics

NEWS BULLETIN

TANKS & LOGISTICS

A LARGE SCOTCH FOR STOLT

Stolt Tank Containers (STC) has opened a new tank container depot in Grangemouth, UK, Tank Wash Scotland Ltd. Grangemouth is the largest port in Scotland, STC notes, and an ideal location for a depot to support its customers, with convenient connections to the local railfreight network and proximity to Scotland’s main road arteries.

The new depot offers state-of-the-art cleaning, heating, storage and repair of road tankers and tank containers, both STC’s own tanks and those belonging to third parties. It has one segregated drive-through wash bay for foodgrade products, six fixed food bays, two drive-through wash bays for chemical tanks and tankers, three test bays, three hot work repair bays, 12 steam-heating bays and parking for 30 trucks. Its wastewater treatment plant is optimised for limiting water use and reducing transport-related CO2 emissions.

“I am delighted to announce that our latest depot is now up and running,” says Mike Kramer, president of STC. “Our long-standing relationships with customers, coupled with the expertise of our highly experienced local team, will deliver value and quality to local markets. This is another step in our journey to optimise logistics by investing in facilities close to our customers and the digitalisation of our processes.”

When fully operational the Grangemouth site will have the capacity to house 240 tanks and will serve the needs of customers in the local petrochemical industry and food and drink sector, which is by far Scotland’s largest export market. In addition to aligning with STC’s sustainability strategy, the investment also supports the Scottish Whisky Association’s ambitions for a circular economy and transitioning to net zero by 2040. www.stolttankcontainers.com

JOST BUYS IN BELGIUM

JOST has acquired Anné-Louagie, a Temsebased container haulage specialist, which recorded 2020 turnover of €12m. The company has a strong presence in the French and Swiss markets, with a focus on the movement of ADR and reefer containers. All personnel, including the two founders of the company, and its ten vehicles will now joint JOST.

“With JOST, we have found a buyer with whom we can continue to offer the same flexibility to our clients, while benefiting from the advantages of belonging to a larger group,” says Marc Anné, who founded the company in 2003 with his wife Mady Louagie. “I myself will remain on board, along with my wife, to make sure the transition goes smoothly for staff, customers and the 70 contractors.” jostgroup.com

LAG GIVES COMFORT

Comfort Energy, the largest independent fuel distributor in Belgium, has expanded its road fleet with 22 new vehicles from LAG. The two firms have worked together since the 1990s, with LAG supplying more than 200 fuel tankers over that time. The latest order is part of Comfort’s project to reduce its carbon footprint and those of its customers, with the

vehicles featuring lighter tanks and more efficient piping, to reduce fuel consumption and spillages.

The latest batch of new vehicles comprises 20 rigid tankers ranging in size from 10,700 to 23,300 litres, as well as two semi-trailers. They have a uniform design for the superstructure, meaning that all parts are interchangeable. “This is a welcome innovation,” says David Delellio, COO of Comfort Energy. “The uniformity saves time and money. The same design across all types is easier for users to learn. We set up all the appliance cabinets similarly and save a lot of time. This is a pure win-win situation.” www.lag.eu

SUTTONS GOES FOR SLUDGE

Suttons Tankers has taken delivery of 14 new Volvo FMXs, the first rigid trucks to join its fleet, after being impressed by their design. The new units will be deployed exclusively on a contract with Yorkshire Water for the transport of sludge.

“We’ve run Volvo for many years, but this is the first time we’ve opted for FMX rigids,” says Mark Scott, fleet engineer at Suttons Tankers. “Our contract work is very particular, so the team road-tested the truck over two days through the rolling Yorkshire Dales to see if they could handle the job. We were able to assess a variety of factors that impact on each job, including access, turning circles, manoeuvrability and traction, and to say we were impressed would be an understatement. The demonstrator performed exceptionally and ticked all the boxes.” www.suttonsgroup.com

EVOS ON STATION

Evos has commissioned a new railcar loading station at its bulk liquids storage terminal in Hamburg. Evos has invested some €22m in the new facilities, with the aim of increasing rail loading capacity for middle distillates by more than 40 per cent. New pump technology will allow two tank cars to be loaded simultaneously and the new station also features innovative bio-blending capabilities, allowing biofuels to be blended during loading.

In addition, the new station will also improve the terminal’s carbon footprint: necessary railcar manoeuvring will now be handled by a cable pull system, removing the use of diesel-powered shunting locomotives.

“We demonstrate with our new railcar loading station that Evos Hamburg continuously develops its service offering according to the requirements of the market and our customers,” says Ulfert Cornelius, managing director of Evos Hamburg. “The new station – and the resulting increased terminal capacity – provide existing and future clients our established outstanding level of service provision and market-leading standards in safety, sustainability, and efficiency yet again.”

“We have invested in our terminal in the port of Hamburg because we are convinced that we will need liquid goods and therefore storage terminals if we want to successfully implement the energy and mobility transition,” Cornelius adds. “In fact, we cannot just count on electrification if we want to reach our ambitious climate protection goals but need to include climate-neutral, liquid fuels and all available technologies to do so. Evos believes in the port of Hamburg as a key energy hub for the import of green energy sources and fuels.” evos.eu

DP TAKES AIM AT IMPERIAL

DP World has made an offer to acquire all the outstanding shares in South Africa-based Imperial, for a cash consideration equivalent to some ZAR 12.7bn ($863m). The proposed deal will include Imperial’s Logistics International business, which has a strong focus in European chemical logistics. It will also expand DP World’s logistics footprint in Africa.

“Combining DP World’s world-class infrastructure, specifically its investment and expertise in ports on the African and European continents, with Imperial’s logistics and market access platforms will enable us to offer integrated end-to-end solutions along key trade lanes into and out of Africa and accelerate our position in Europe, driving greater supply chain efficiencies and ultimately enhancing value for all stakeholders,” explains Mohammed Akoojee, Group CEO of Imperial.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group chairman and CEO of DP World, adds: “We are excited to announce the proposed acquisition of Imperial, which will add significant strategic value to DP World given its attractive footprint and strong logistics solutions capability. Imperial has a significant presence in Africa, a market where trade is expected to grow at more than 2x GDP driven by population growth, accelerated urbanisation and rising middle classes. Imperial’s business strongly complements DP World’s existing footprint in Africa and Europe and will allow us to deliver a fully integrated end-to-end solution to cargo owners across a wider market.”

The transaction is subject to approval by Imperial’s shareholders, regulatory approvals and customary completion conditions. www.dpworld.com www.imperiallogistics.com