On 3 July, the Port of Rotterdam signed a contract with a construction consortium to extend the Botlek Tank Terminal (BTT) [HES interest 50%] site by approximately 5 ha.
This will double the area occupied by the existing terminal, allowing the total storage capacity to be expanded from 200,000 to approximately 750,000 m3. The extension to the site will be accomplished by land reclamation. The newly reclaimed land will be handed over to BTT in two phases and the work will take a total of 21 months to complete.
When the whole site has been handed over, in mid-2014, BTT will be able to build liquid bulk tank storage capacity of 550,000 m3 on it, possibly in phases. Talks are in progress with customers and banks. The environmental licence for the expansion was issued by the regional environmental authority DCMR last month. The newbuild plans also include a train loading station and a connection to the European pipeline system for aviation fuel.
The existing Phase I of the project gives BTT 34 storage tanks, with a combined storage capacity of 200,000 m3, of which 130,000 m3 is earmarked for transport fuels and 70,000 m3 for edible oils and biodiesel. Capacity utilisation is high.
This state-of-the-art terminal has ample deepwater berths and facilities for the transhipment and storage of a wide range of liquid bulk products. The 420 m sea jetty is capable of handling two seagoing vessels of up to 115,000 DWT and two tank barges simultaneously, 24/7. Safety and environmental protection are a high priority at BTT and the company’s management system has ISO 9001, ISO 14000 and OSHAS 18000 certification.
Phase I qualifies as a ‘zero emission terminal’, making it one of the first environmentally sound tank terminals in the world. Last week, BTT also received its AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) certificate from the Dutch customs, providing accreditation as a reliable partner for customs clearance and international trade.
[mappress]
Dredging Today Staff, July 4, 2012; Image: hesbeheer