6
B ULK D ISTRIBUTOR
Tank Containers
September/October 2017
‘Game changing’ LNG tank launched
A
recent report forecast the global LNG tank container
market to grow at a CAGR of almost 7 percent form until
2021.
Technavio, a research outfit, says the demand for LNG storage
tanks surged in 2016 as the total number of marine voyages for LNG
trade increased in the same year compared with 2015. This was
because the new liquefaction capacities that started operating in the
Middle East and Africa regions emerged as significant LNG
importers.
More than 4,200 voyages for LNG trade were completed during
2016, which was a 5 percent hike over 2015. LNG trade was
conducted on a regional basis through fixed routes by serving long-
term point-to-point contracts.
Tank technology is rapidly improving, too. Finnish LNG tank
manufacturer LNGTainer has launched a new tank claimed to be a
‘game changer’.
The tank features a light, flexible internal barrel and outside
pressure vessel. For the internal tank, LNGTainer chose Outokumpu’s
Supra 316plus steel grade. “With the new patented structure, we
could decrease the weight of the tank by 30 peercent and increase
its capacity by 15 percent,” said CEO Tom Sommardal. “Because the
weight of the inside tank is significantly less than in competing units,
the time for cooling off the inside tank is considerably shorter.”
LNGTainer first considered using
aluminium for the internal tank, but then
Outokumpu offered Supra 316plus
because of its properties, such relatively
better low temperature performance
compared with other similar materials. In
fact, its strength and ductility only improve
as the temperature drops down to the
lowest measured cryogenic temperature of
-196degC. LNG is transported at a
temperature of -164degC and then
warmed back to gas when delivered.
“By having excellent low temperature
properties, Supra 316plus enables thinner
gauges, which translates as savings in
weight, fuel, and energy costs, as well as
a lower carbon footprint. LNGTainer’s
LNGTainer’s new LNG tank features a light, flexible internal barrel and outside pressure vessel
new tank container is a real breakthrough,
and it demonstrates the best use of stainless steel properties in
has good corrosion resistance and its performance is superior to
extreme conditions,” added Outokumpu product manager Juha
conventional steel grades when the temperature drops down to
Kela.
cryogenic temperatures. In addition, the price of the grade is
Supra 316plus has a higher chromium and nitrogen content, and
competitive and stable, the steel maker says.
less nickel and molybdenum. Thanks to this composition, the grade
www.lngtainer.com
Training day
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Your tank container experts
TWS has more than 25 years of experience in renting out standard and special
tank containers for liquid products to the chemical and food industries. TWS also
provides various sizes of spill troughs. Customers rely on the outstanding quality
of its fleet and value its flexibility in terms of volume and technical features.
For more information: E-mail: [email protected] and web: www.tws-gmbh.de
t the start of summer, staff from one of Den Hartogh’s
main customers, attended a logistics training day in
Rozenburg, The Netherlands where one of the workshops is
located.
The customer had asked Den Hartogh to organise the training
session because it considers it important for all of the parties
involved in the supply chain to learn about the equipment in its
products are transported. Getting to know the people they work
with at Den Hartogh was an additional benefit for the participants.
The group attended a presentation showing Den Hartogh’s
general business operation and the route orders take from when
they are received to are completion.
Han van Berghem, field supervisor, then took the participants
around the workshop and showed them the wide range of
equipment that Den Hartogh uses, including the different types of
tank container, trailer, hoses, couplings, trucks, on-board
computers, valves and a truck with a trailer/container.
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In August, Den Hartogh received the Solvay Excellence
Supplier Award for Maritime Logistics Services.
The award signifies outstanding carrier performance and reflects
the winner’s contribution to providing Solvay with fluidity
throughout its global supply chain. Factors determining the
winners include responsiveness, execution, sales and all of the
quality/compliance areas.
Jean Felipe Albuquerque, Den Hartogh’s general manager for
Latin America, said: “Rhodia (Solvay Brazil) has a very structured
process. The company is demanding but fair, it is the largest ISO
tank shipper operating out of port of Santos (Brazil’s largest
container port). The award is recognition of our efforts and
provides motivation for our team in Rio, especially in light of a
post integration year associated with so many changes, a new
process, and having to learn our transfusion system.”
Albuquerque added that Rhodia measures its entire supply chain,
not just up to the port in Santos. “So this award is not only a
reward for the Rio office but for all the Den Hartogh teams that
work with Rhodia around the world. Without everyone performing
so well throughout the year, this award would not have been
possible,” he said.
The Den Hartogh customer asked the firm to organise the training session so staff could learn
about the equipment in its products are transported