Tank & ISO Containers
September / October 2018
Tank & ISO Containers
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In June Bertschi celebrated the opening of a new plastics hub in Port of Antwerp . Located on more than 25,000 sqm , the facility is part of a bigger area called ‘ Antwerp Zomerweg Terminal ( AZT )’. Various value added logistics services are provided , such as transhipment , storage and distribution of imported overseas ’ bulk plastics . The opening of the hub took place with a small ceremony in the presence of customers and port authorities . With the first containers already arrived and handled in February , the staff can look back on a smooth start of operations over the first few months . After the acquisition of this area in June 2017 , the project for the hub had to be delivered at short notice to be ready for the first containers arriving at the beginning of this year . The hub consists of a container storage area with a capacity of more than 20,000 tons of product , as well as two tilting platforms for the decanting of 20ft and 40ft sea bulk containers into 30ft European dry bulk boxes . The plastic products are stored in these liner boxes at the site itself . For onward distribution in the same liner boxes , Bertschi offers its Europe-wide intermodal transport network . “ From the arrival of the plastics in Antwerp , over the decanting and storage to their final distribution within Europe , this new facility gives us the possibility to offer an all-in-one solution to our customers ,” said Hans- Jörg Bertschi , CEO and chairman . Product storage in 30ft containers has various advantages compared to vertical silos . While working with boxes , the container is used both as cargo transport unit as well as means of storage , whereas the use of vertical silos entails additional transhipment and , therefore , reduced product integrity . The resulting lower number of handlings and the fact that cost is only incurred for bulk material effectively stored in a container reduces the total supply chain costs . At the same time , the concept reduces the carbon footprint by increasing intermodal deliveries . Also , when it comes to customer service , containers have further advantages . Where vertical silos are fixed to their location , box containers allow product to be stored close to the customer and , therefore , add flexibility to react to changing market needs . “ Bertschi was able to demonstrate the advantages of the container concept for our product flows and convinced us to implement this solution , so we are very pleased to be the launch customer of the new plastics hub and the start-up of the project so far ,” stated Benny Mermans , general manager EMEA for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company . The AZT area , which also includes a rail terminal , is located right next to the existing Bertschi Antwerp facility in a central part of Port of Antwerp . It is the ultimate goal of Bertschi to develop this 80,000 sqm site into a trimodal chemical logistics hub with sea and rail connection over the next years . “ We are happy to see Bertschi ’ s plans to develop this strategic area in Antwerp ,” added William Demoor , the port authority ’ s director of customer relations .
Promotion
Meanwhile , Michael Baechler , head of Bertschi ’ s business unit Global , will take over as chief operating officer of the Bertschi Group from June 2019 . Baechler has been working for the company since 1998 and has played a key role in the development of the group in different positions such as division manager projects , head
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Russia ’ s Spectransgarant has boosted its rolling stock by acquiring 300 platforms for carrying tank containers . The 40ft flatcars were supplied by JSC Altayvagon . In the second half of the year the company plans to take delivery of another 300 platforms for tank containers , bringing the total fleet to 2,800 units by the beginning of 2019 . “ A lack of models that allow for tank container transport was the key driver behind building our own ,” explained managing director Maria Surina . “ It is quite difficult to rent because of
Product storage in 30ft containers has various advantages compared to vertical silos
scarcity in the market . And at the same time rental rates are too high . That is why it was more favourable to have our own units built instead of renting them . As a result our owned fleet rise to make 85 percent by the end of the year .” In 2017 , Spectransgarant increased the volume of transports by 10 percent compared with the previous year having shipped 825,000 tons of freight . The main growth was in transporting acids , which were up 14 percent , oils ( up 4 times ) and alkalis (+ 4 percent ). of Intermodal Network , general manager Italy and managing director BU Liquids Europe . Since 2012 , operating as managing director BU Global , he successfully positioned the company in the global tank container transport market . In February next year , Nils Thater , deputy managing director of BU Global , will take over the role of managing director BU Global . Global is responsible for the group ’ s worldwide tank container shipments , with its own subsidiaries in Shanghai , Singapore , Houston , Dubai , Sao Paolo and Dürrenäsch . Thater has been with the company since 2012 . He has successfully developed the subsidiary in Dubai , before assuming his current position at the headquarters in Switzerland .
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Stolt Tank Containers reported secondquarter operating revenue of US $ 143.2 million , up from $ 132.5 million in the first quarter , driven by a 7.6 percent increase in total shipments , reflecting the strength of the market . While utilisation was up slightly in the quarter , revenue per shipment was essentially unchanged . Demurrage revenue rose by 21.5 percent over the seasonally low first quarter , reflecting in part the increased use of tank containers for inventory storage by customers . STC continued to grow its fleet in the second quarter , with additions of both chemical and food-grade tanks resulting in a 3.9 percent expansion to more than 38,000 tank containers . STC reported second-quarter operating income of $ 18.8 million , up from $ 16.2 million in the first quarter . The results reflect the continued growth of the highly competitive global tank container market , the company said .
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Albatross Tank-Leasing has launch a ‘ Fleet
Specs ’ facility , allowing 24 / 7 access to tank container documentation . Albatross Fleet Specs provides all essential documents for each tank container , including Specification , GA Drawing and Initial Construction Certificate . The database will be updated with new test certification shortly after each test has been performed .
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Spectransgarant owned flatbed fleet will rise to 85 percent by the end of the year
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