THE WORLD OF OILTANKING VOL. 21/1 APRIL 2009

THE WORLD OF OILTANKING VOL. 21/1 APRIL 2009
connections
EDITORIAL
ASIA
Ups and downs
In these times of
economic uncertainty
and the turmoil that
goes with the territory,
one
often
finds
oneself riding not
only financial but
also emotional roller-coasters. There are many different ways
to deal with such adverse situations. One is to bury one’s head
in the sand and/or only see the negative aspects, for instance.
Others may deal with such a situation by setting sail for a new
start using the opportunities changes bring and looking for the
silver lining. They shut away the past and concentrate their
energy and confidence on a brighter future. And there is the
possibility to recollect and revert to old traditions in the hope
that this might be the cure. What about Oiltanking?
in uncertainty. But finding ways to overcome difficult situations
is actually nothing new for the company. As an independent oil
and chemical storage provider, we are proud of our long
history and traditional values. We have always acted with
prudence and diligence and will continue to do so. However,
despite our ties to tradition, we have always been — and will
continue to be — open to new ventures.
You will see that this issue focuses on news that reflects new
beginnings as well as old traditions — some of them of course
quite emotional and, luckily, positive. I hope you enjoy reading
about them and that they may inspire confidence in you.
Gust Spaepen
Managing Director Oiltanking GmbH
As an international company, we are intertwined with the
global economy and thus are also experiencing a vast increase
Highlights in this issue
CAPE TOWN
4
COLOMBIA
A new
lighthouse
2
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Oiltanking
ventures
into South
Africa
14
10
EMOTIONS
Locks of
luck
NANJING
Cultural
experience
20
The Houdini Project
In January 2009, Oiltanking Odfjell Singapore (OOTS) and Shell Eastern Petroleum
Limited (SEPL) signed on the dotted line of another Shell Houdini contract — the storage
and handling of Propylene.
Why would someone call a project
“Houdini”? Much like its namesake, the
reason seems to be shrouded in mystery.
However, the name has proven apt —
evoking images of the tricks of the
famous magician Harry Houdini* — as
the project has been rather “elusive”,
running into the stops and starts that are
not uncommon for a project of such a
scale. However, let us unveil the secret
and reveal what this is all about. In short,
the complete Houdini project involves
the construction and backward integration
of a new cracker complex built by Shell
Eastern Petroleum Limited (SEPL).
After a hiatus, the Houdini project was
resurrected in 2006 when SEPL proposed
the development of the Shell Eastern
petrochemical Complex on two sites in
Singapore. One is an Ethylene Cracker
Complex (ECC) to be located on Pulau
Ular close to their existing Bukom
Refinery. The other one is a 750,000 MT
per annum Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG)
plant to be constructed on Pulau Ayer
Merbau on Jurong Island. The cracker
complex is connected to Jurong Island by
two bundles of sub-sea pipelines and will
produce key petrochemical feed stocks
such as ethylene, propylene, butadiene
and benzene, which will largely supply
downstream production plants on the
island. MEG — a key raw material for the
synthetic fiber industry — will almost
entirely be exported to other Asia Pacific
markets such as China.
Oiltanking Odfjell Singapore (OOTS) was
invited to bid for the storage contracts
for propylene, butadiene and MEG.
After the traditional discussions about
the commercial, technical,
operational and legal aspects,
the magic words “go ahead”
were uttered in 2007 for the
MEG and in 2008 for the
propylene. Five new tanks for
MEG with a total capacity of
64,000 cbm are currently
under
construction.
All
operations are scheduled to
Magic mood Smiling faces after the signing.
commence in November this
year.
The
infrastructure
belonging to the three
Exxon
existing pressurized bullets
Mobil
Shell
Terminal
(in total 9,600 cbm) for
Road Link
Caltex
propylene will be modified
C
Teonta
and the “new” Houdinirm in
Exxon
SRC
ina er
Mobil
l
related operations are due to
EO/PO
start in March 2010. Whereas
Exxon
corridor SCSL
Tembusu
Mobil
today propylene is brought
PCS
by ships, stored and injected
Sakra
into a pipeline to a neighboring
plant, in the future propylene
Pulau Bukom
Jurong Island
will arrive via a pipeline and,
after a brief storage period,
Shell
be pumped in two pipeline
Pulau Busing
Shell cracker
(under construction)
systems simultaneously to
feed a number of downstream
Pulau
map of Singapore/Jurong island/
Sebarok
Shell Single
plants, as well as loaded to
Pulau Ular/Pulau Ayer Merbau.
Buoy Mooring
vessels. It is anticipated that
the total volume of product
to be handled could even triple to
industry in and around Jurong Island. For
650,000 MT per year.
Singapore, it is remarkable that despite
For OOTS, the fact that the lengthy
its reliance on imported raw materials,
Houdini project finally materialized is not
the country is on its way to producing
only proof that hard work and persistence
almost four million tons of ethylene each
eventually bears fruits; it will also
year, not least due to Shell’s world-scale
entrench OOTS as a critical service
ethylene cracker and mono ethylene
provider in the transmission and dispatch
glycol plant.
of key feed stocks and finished products.
* Harry Houdini (1874–1926), a famous HungarianIn addition, it enhances the company’s
American magician who is widely regarded as one
of the greatest escapologists in history.
role of facilitating and supporting the
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3
S outh A F R I C A
S outh A F R I C A
Diversity South Africa
is a nation with over 48million people and a variety
of culture, languages and
religions beliefs.
Facts & figures
Official name:
Oiltanking ventures
into
South Africa
On March 5, 2009, Oiltanking entered into a joint venture with Calulo Terminals (Pty)
Ltd, a 100-percent subsidiary of Calulo Investments Limited, incorporating Oiltanking
Calulo (Pty) Ltd. The aim of the new company is to identify, evaluate and develop
independent bulk liquid storage projects in South Africa.
The beginning of 2009 brought a novelty to Oiltanking:
for the very first time in its 37-year existence, it entered the
African market. With the growing demand for fuels in South
Africa and the lack of a supporting storage/marine
infrastructure, Oiltanking saw a good opportunity to broaden
its international service palette.
BBBEE
In order to understand the South African market, it is important
to know what has happened in the country since the abolition
of Apartheid in the early 90s. Since the African National
Congress (ANC) swept to power in 1994, the government has
prioritized transforming South Africa’s economy, i.e. bringing
about a significant increase in the welfare of the numerous
disadvantaged people that manage, own and control the
country’s economy and reducing the inequalities. The
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fundamentals of these policies are laid down in the BroadBased Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Act of 2003
and the related Codes of Good Practice. The codes represent
scorecards, which measure black “presence” in ownership,
management control, employment equity, skills development,
preferential procurement, enterprise development and socioeconomic development. In order for Oiltanking to be able to
participate in public tenders and have access to key decisionmakers in the bulk liquid industry, the first priority was to find
a suitable local partner. Not only should the partner subscribe
to Oiltanking’s business ethics and truly add value to our
business goals, it also needed to have all the required BBBEE
credentials.
credentials to make Oiltanking Calulo a preferred partner for
state-owned enterprises and other companies. A good example
of the impact of the BBBEE scorecard on daily business is
“preferential procurement”. It rewards you with credits for
doing business with a BBBEE company and therefore works
two-ways. The credits granted depend on the BBBEE rating of
the other company. Having sufficient credits is therefore
crucial as the higher your rating scores, the more companies
would like to do business with you. Calulo is a South African
investment house with interests in petrochemicals (TOTAL
South Africa, Kepu Trading, NCP Chlorchem), services
(shipping, bunkering, trucking, drilling), resources (mining),
and property. Through its widespread activities in the
petrochemical, bunkering and trading segment of the South
African economy, Calulo provides the joint venture with
valuable local expertise and exposure.
Oiltanking is in charge of the daily management, ensuring
that the Oiltanking reputation and standards are safeguarded
at all times. In order to do so, Gideon Loudon moved from
Singapore to Cape Town to head the new company.
Several opportunities in South Africa are being studied and
pursued. So far, the new company has been well received by
the market players as new competition is welcomed on a
market where there have traditionally only been a few
independent players in our field. Since the advent of democracy
in 1994, South Africa’s economy has been entirely overhauled
Republic of South Africa
Total land area: 1,221,037 square kilometers —
equal to the combined land mass of
Germany, Italy and France
Capital:
Three: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town
(legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
Population:
48.7 million (approx. 2008)
Ethnic groups: Black African (79%), White (9.6%),
Colored (8.9%), Indian/Asian (2.5%)
(census 2001)
Religion:
Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish
Climate:
Mostly semiarid, subtropical along
east coast, sunny days/cool nights
Currency:
Rand ZAR (R), 100 ZAR = approx. 10 US$
GDP:
US$ 506.1 billion (2008 est.)
Language:
Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi,
Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda,
Xhosa, Zulu (eleven official ones)
Natural
resources:
World’s largest producer of platinum,
gold and chromium; antimony, coal,
iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates,
tin, uranium, gem diamonds, copper,
vanadium, salt, natural gas
and the bold macroeconomic reforms bear fruit. The economic
growth has been steady and unprecedented. Given this
substantial progression and with the close co-operation and
support from Calulo, Oiltanking believes that the synergy of
both partners will create a solid platform for success on the
South African storage market.
BRILLIANT
Breathtaking
scenery,
enormous gold
and diamond
resources and
golden sunshine
are attributes
South Africa is
famous for.
Oiltanking’s partner Calulo Investments satisfied these
requirements completely. This fully black-owned and controlled
company provides the joint venture with the required BBBEE
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5
PORTRAIT
PORTRAIT
We Can, We Care
… in Operations
Ongoing operations Shift leader Robert
Silvertooth (left) discusses a barge transfer with
operators Cole Parrish (middle) and Kelly Flores.
OTTC has four board operators who work in a
four-day on, four-day off rhythm. Their
responsibilities include communicating with
shipping agents and tug boats to schedule
marine activities. They are responsible for
monitoring the pipeline transfers, tank to tank
transfers and the tank gauging system. The
board men are the 24-hour contacts for OT’s
customers
in
case
there
are
special
circumstances, which arise outside normal work
hours. This is their primary job function;
however, these gentlemen are also qualified for
external jobs as well. OTTC also has four control
room operators. Their sole responsibility is to
handle the check in / check out process for tank
truck loading/unloading.
The Oiltanking terminals are made up of various different departments, each and
every one of which is crucial for a smooth and satisfactory work process. Here, we
take a closer look at what “operations” involves in Texas City, Texas/USA.
Originating from the Latin verb “operare” (to work), it is not
that difficult to guess what “operations” stands for. And there is
plenty of work for the 46 members of the operations team in
Texas City: one operations manager, one operations coordinator,
five shift leaders, 36 rotating shift operators and three day
operators. Like most chemical terminals, Oiltanking Texas City
(OTTC) handles a multitude of different products and shipping
containers. Therefore, the operators load and unload tank
trucks, tank cars, deck tanks, barges and vessels. On average,
that means approx. 722 tank trucks, 750 railcars, 80 barges,
19 vessels and 70 pipeline transfers each month. In order to
handle this turn-around, there are four rotating shifts that
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cover the terminal activity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The day shift works in the ethanol denaturing area and the
unit is staffed Monday through Friday, 0700 to 1500 hrs. Of
course, shift scheduling needs precise planning, which is
performed by operations manager Scooter Wilson with input
from the shift leaders. The typical day in operations begins
with a shift meeting prior to relieving the current shift. The
shift leader discusses the daily tasks. As each operator is
qualified in certain/different jobs, the shift leader reviews the
activity and assigns his/her operators according to their
qualifications.
As with any terminal, the typical problems or
challenges are handling last-minute changes.
“We are a service-providing organization and
must be prepared to make last-minute decisions
or changes to satisfy our customer’s needs”
explains Scooter Wilson. “Although we attempt
to pre-plan as many activities as possible, this
is not always the way it turns out. Our logistics
department does a great job in communicating
our customer’s requirements to the operating
group. This close relationship between
operations and logistics is a vital part of OTTC.”
The fact that every day is a little different from the previous one
is one reason why operators find their job attractive. Although
the activity is basically the same day in and day out, there is
usually something during every shift that needs an immediate
decision. Some would say that the rotating 12-hour shift
schedule, which results in a normal schedule of working 14 days
a month and having 14 days off a month, sounds enticing. Each
month, the operators have a long change, which consists of 7
consecutive days off. Sounds like something that might be right
up your street? Well, when OTTC is looking for new operations
employees, previous experience is helpful but not essential.
Almost all of the job training will be done in-house using
experienced operators to teach new employees. Basically, a
high school education is needed, but further qualifications are
preferable. The ideal candidate is someone who works very
diligently and is safety-conscious. No matter what
kind of products one handles, one mistake, like
pumping a product into the wrong tank for
instance, not only causes double the work, but
also means unnecessary costs, not to mention
damaging Oiltanking’s reputation for service
quality. The candidate should also show a solid
working history and not have flitted from job to
job. In short: a person who is as dedicated to
OTTC as OTTC will be dedicated to them.
The majority of the experience stays in-house.
However, there are occasions when OTTC seeks
opinions and advice from other terminals on
processes that may be new at OTTC. Currently,
OTTC is expanding within the terminal to handle
more petrochemical products. With these
expansions, the OTTC terminal will be more
diverse on the market. OTTC is looking forward to
these continued challenges and, with its reliable
and dedicated operating personnel on hand, these
challenges are sure to be overcome.
Teamwork Operations coordinator Danny
Davalos (left) assists operator Esteban
Reyes (right) with a railcar disconnect.
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7
N orth A merica
N orth A merica
Covering the
US Mid-Continent
The Des Plaines
River It provides the
terminal with barge
traffic to/from both the
Mississippi River and
the Great Lakes.
On January 20, 2009, Oiltanking North America acquired the Joliet Marine Terminal
assets in Channahon, Illinois/USA.
The Joliet Marine terminal expands Oiltanking North
America’s footprint to serve the Mid-Continent with bulk
liquid handling services, specializing in chemicals and oil
logistics. After many years exploring the area, Oiltanking
has secured a strategically located growth platform. The
terminal consists of 67 tanks with a total storage capacity
of 44,600 cbm (280,000 bbls). It is conveniently located
in Channahon, Illinois, about 50 miles southeast of
downtown Chicago on the banks of the Des Plaines River,
an important waterway that connects the Great Lakes
and the Mississippi River.
Apart from the two docks for river barges, there are
excellent truck and rail car facilities. With its close
proximity to several national interstates and direct
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access to the main rail lines (thus avoiding the congestion
of the Chicago rail network), the terminal provides
excellent connectivity options. Its proximity to Chicago
is a key element for the terminal to develop into a major
distribution center. After all, with over 1,200 trains
transiting daily, Chicago is considered the largest rail
hub in North America.
Today, the terminal serves as a distribution center for
specialty chemicals; however, the available resources
present themselves as an ideal platform for customers
to locate consolidated product distribution channels at
the terminal. There is also a sizeable amount of land
Task field The terminal today serves as a speciality chemicals
distribution hub for a major chemical company.
available for expansion. In short, the Joliet terminal is
an excellent addition to Oiltanking’s North American
network, rounding off its national presence within the
wide-ranging international group.
We would additionally like to extend a very warm
Oiltanking welcome to all our new colleagues at Oiltanking
Joliet. Your efforts are sincerely appreciated and
Oiltanking will work very hard to make this facility an
exceptional place to work. Mike Hotchkin is the new
Terminal manager, supported by virtually all the former
terminal staff and a Texas transplant, Pat Babineaux. Pat
has taken on the role of assistant terminal manager with
specific transition responsibilities.
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9
宅食表
C ultural e x periences
C ultural e x periences
Contemporary China A fusion of tradition and novelties.
One year ago, our Belgian colleague
Koen Verniers moved from Texas
City/Texas, USA to Nanjing/China.
Here are some impressions from his
stay in China so far.
From Texas City to
Nanjing
When it was announced in late 2007,
our transfer from Texas City near Houston,
Texas, to Nanjing, China, was certainly the
talk of the town. Moving to Texas from
Belgium is one thing, but why would we want
to move to China, which is so far away and
unlike anything we know at home? How will
you communicate at work? And what about
eating dog and snake? Do they not spit on
the ground, too? But, by the way, we will
certainly come and visit you during the Beijing
Olympics … However, re-reading The Blue
Lotus*, the legendary story featuring Belgian
comic hero Tintin (who incidentally celebrates
his 80th birthday in 2009) set in 1930s
Shanghai, reminded us why we ourselves
were not so much concerned as intrigued.
As the entire world has been together with
us, we were fascinated by a country whose
size, population, regime, culture, both ancient
and recent history are hard for anyone to
fathom and understand, especially those of
us watching it all from a distance. Spending
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南京（中国）
one year in the great Middle Kingdom is obviously not
enough to fully grasp what China is all about. But being
closer to and part of the country, we have picked up a few
things already. Some impressions …
Food? A linking factor
As good Belgians, we immediately found that we had one
crucial aspect of life in common with the Chinese: food.
The culture of enjoying a fine meal is very important and
given a lot of attention. Although the younger generation
is becoming addicted to fast food — like anywhere else in
the world — in general the Chinese pride themselves on
being picky when it comes to selecting their meal. A good
Chinese meal has warm and cold dishes, soup, meat and
fish, rice or noodles, and fruit. Vegetables are chosen for
* The Blue Lotus (French: Le Lotus bleu), first published in 1936, is one
of “The Adventures of Tintin”, a series of classic comic-strip albums
featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero. It was written and illustrated
by Hergé, one of the most famous Belgians worldwide, and is still
internationally very successful.
the colors they add to the meal (one or two colors
is standard, more exquisite meals ought to feature
four or five colors). As a consequence, meals consist
of many divergent small dishes with a lot of variety
and plenty of healthy choices. Sitting together and
enjoying a good, balanced meal is considered the
number one way to bond, build relationships, and
show respect.
On the subject of showing respect, there is a strict
protocol regarding the seating arrangements at
business dinners or lunches. Also, the host is
responsible for making sure the guest has a good
time … and enough to drink. The guest is asked to
select between beer, wine or baijiu (Chinese liquor),
the latter being (literally) hard to swallow for
foreigners — at least this one. In some parts of
China, it is customary for the guest to drink three
glasses (ganbei or bottoms up) for every glass the
host drinks … no wonder dinners tend to be lively
and entertaining events and do not really help you
to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
email is “sending a sister” since the character for sister in
Chinese (mei’r) sounds like the English word mail … To speak
and read Chinese fluently, one has to know approximately
3,000 characters. Identical combinations of characters can be
pronounced differently and thus have varying meanings. It
takes a lot of effort and dedication to master even the easiest
day-to-day conversation skills. So far, we have had mixed
rewards from our efforts to study and practice the language.
Lack of time (and energy) is the main culprit of course. Given
the slow but steady progress already made by other family
members, I have not given up yet, though.
Lao Wai? Or outsiders no matter what
As a Lao Wai (literally “old outsider”, an expression for
foreigner that you will hear the Chinese use in any conversation
when they are referring to you), one has to accept being a
“toothless tiger”. Due to the language barrier and cultural
Language? A question
of character
Language is a challenge. The Chinese written
language has existed uninterruptedly for centuries
and is the oldest language still in use. The language
is fairly logical and has not changed much over the
years. New words are formed by new combinations
of characters. The word for computer is literally
“electronic brain”, a printer becomes an “ink
pounding machine” and the word for sending an
PORTRAIT
Koen Verniers started his career
with Oiltanking as Management
Trainee at Oiltanking Ghent in
Belgium. Before joining Oiltanking
Nanjing, he worked for Oiltanking in
Houston, Hamburg and Texas City.
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C ultural e x periences
P ortrait
Introducing …
… this time Nina Kreander, Customer
Service
and
Marketing
Coordinator,
Oiltanking Sonmarin Oy, Finland. Another
colleague whose face will be seen in
Oiltanking’s
international
advertising
campaign “We Can, We Care”.
What did you want to be when you
Multifaceted
streetlife
Passion, patience
and pecularities.
differences, the key is to recognize and accept the fact
that you are not as much in control as you are used to
being in the equivalent situation in the West. People say
“yes” but really mean to say “sorry, do not understand”
or “actually do not agree and therefore will not follow
through but since that is difficult to say to anybody
(boss/officer/customer/colleague) I will just sit back
and see what happens”. Dealing with the authorities is
a full-time job (you need their consent, support, and
assistance for pretty much anything you do) and never
goes according to your own personal agenda. Through
the culture of Confucius, any relationship is, per
definition, very hierarchical and every opportunity is
taken to point out who is on the lower end of the food
chain. In the efforts to form a team that blends
international business practice with the traditional
national company working culture, coaching and guiding
colleagues is extremely rewarding (as always) but
needs an unusual dose of patience and resilience, again
mainly due to the language barrier and the very
disparate educational, business and cultural backgrounds
of the respective team members.
Many foreigners working in China highlight the toothless
tiger syndrome as one of the main issues they struggle
with at work. Against that background, it is important to
always seek what people have in common rather than focus
on the differences; surprisingly yet somewhat reassuringly:
what makes people really tick is not so drastically dissimilar
from one place to another. At the end of the day, it is
people that meet and work together, not cultures.
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Country and people?
A flustering fascination
China is vast (9,596,960 sq km) and diverse. It is
therefore not surprising that the language, culture,
food and so many other features of daily life contrast
considerably from province to province. People are
very kind and eager to discover new things. Our
three children remain the main attraction everywhere
we go and are used to having their hair touched or
being asked to have their picture taken with Chinese
children.
Of course, China is still very much a developing
country and the gap between the Western inland and
Eastern coastal provinces, the farmers and the
middle class, rich and poor, is astonishingly wide.
The social divide and pollution are so obvious that
they immediately stand out as key threats to the
sustainability of the recent decades of prosperity and
political stability.
We have read a dozen or so books about China, its
natural wonders, people and culture; by all means,
continue to read about its history and leaf through
infamous titles such as “doing business in China”,
“negotiation Chinese style”, etc. but nothing beats
the real thing. At times, the reality can be
magnificently unique or overwhelmingly harsh.
Despite the best intentions, frustration is always
lurking around the corner. But around every corner
there is also the reward of overcoming the obstacles
and ultimately finding a way. In short, there is never
a dull moment, and yes: we are still aroused by
curiosity.
grew
up?
Something
related
to
transportation
and
farming
as
my
grandparents had a big farm and I spent all
my holidays helping them. I always liked to
drive different kinds of vehicles. I was only
seven years old when I first drove a tractor
by myself! How did you find out about
OT? What attracted you? Oiltanking
was looking for a specialist in Russian
logistics through a headhunter. I was
attracted by the challenges this business
field offers. How long have you been
working for OT? I started in the summer
of 2005. Wow, how time flies! What is
your profession? As a Customer Service
and Marketing Coordinator, I am in contact
with our customers on a daily basis
regarding our contracts, terms and
conditions, and administrative issues.
Supporting our marketing team and
organizing different events are also part of
my work, however. What do you like
about your job? That each day is
different! I am able to use my language
skills and I like dealing with hectic
situations. How would you describe
yourself in a short sentence? Positive
energy and a smile! What inspires you?
Everything that is positive — it might be
having a good laugh with colleagues or friends, or something
as simple as a sunny day after a dull period. How do you
recharge your battery? By playing sports, spending time
with my family or having a good dinner. What do you do in
your spare time? I put my spare time to good use ferrying
my kids to their hobbies. Do you have a hobby? Not a
special one as such, but I enjoy doing sport — and spending
a relaxing evening at home. Three things you like? My
family, cats and dogs, the Finnish winter time in the snow.
Three things you dislike? Mean people, betrayal, snakes.
What makes you laugh and what makes you angry?
Situation comedy and strange happenings; I get angry if
someone breaks a promise. What could you not live
without? Fresh water and faith in the future. What would
you do if you had three months vacation? Most likely
I would travel to different places with my loved ones and
spend more time with relatives. I would have no problem
entertaining myself ...
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S O U T H A merica
A new
S O U T H A merica
Oiltanking started 2009
with the acquisition of the
Dow Chemical Company
terminal in Cartagena de
Indias, Colombia. Cartagena
de Indias lies on the
northern coast of Colombia
facing the Caribbean Sea.
With Oiltanking Colombia
S.A. the company’s presence
in South America has thus
added another country to
its portfolio.
lighthouse
in Colombia
Passionate Team Lo Vanhaelen,
General Manager Oiltanking Columbia,
(right) is supported by an excellent team
of experienced and helpful Columbian
colleagues with a very high working
standard: Alírio Serrano, José Miguel
Ortega, Nelly De Leon Barcenas, Raúl
Beltran, Ignacio Valdelamar, Freddy
Polanca, Nelson Palacio (from left).
Map of around 1550 depicting Cartagena de Indias (the city
was named after the city of Cartagena in Murcia, Spain)
Oiltanking has
been analyzing the
Colombian market since early 2008 with a
view to establishing operations there. The main focus has been the
area of Cartagena/Barranquilla, as this is one of the main industrial
zones of the country. This is where you can find important
production plants, e.g. the country’s second biggest refinery, many
chemical plants, important container traffic, cement factories, etc.
Since the beginning of 2009, you can also find Oiltanking’s new
marine terminal on Mamonal industrial estate. The former Dow
Chemical facility comprises a total tank capacity of 9,300 cbm, as
well as a deep-water jetty with an 8.8 metre (29ft) draft.
There is also ample land for expansion, which will soon accommodate
Oiltanking’s plan to enlarge the facility in order to serve a wider
range of customers and products. This intension is also motivated
by Colombia’s ongoing economic growth over the last five years. It
seems that the government’s economic reforms and democratic
security strategy, coupled with increased investment, have
engendered an immense sense of confidence in the economy. This
adds a positive note to the turbulent history of the country and the
development of Cartagena since it was founded 40 years after the
arrival of Christopher Columbus in the region. Since the first
settlement of 200 people in 1533, Cartagena de Indias quickly
expanded into a favorable location to organize trade in the region
thanks to the deep bay protected from the sea. This development
also made it very popular among pirates and countries competing
for the wealth of this Latin American region. The history of the city
is therefore pretty violent and it has been destroyed many times by
invaders. At the beginning of the 20th century, however, times
became more stable and the harbor began to flourish. The
expectations and willingness of the experienced and dedicated
Oiltanking Colombia team to enhance this trend and develop its
new ‘lighthouse” into a bright one is obvious.
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PARTIAL view of the terminal
The OT site And another bright
sight of Cartagena – its rich and
colourful cultural life.
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15
I n the spotlight
I do ’ s
LI Xiang, OT Nanjing, married WU Rui
on May 18, 2008.
Marriage mood
The Sint-Baafs cathedral is one of the three
main tourist attractions in the city of Ghent along
with “Het Belfort” and “Het Gravensteen”.
Ghent — Where tradition meets future
This is the first in a series of articles about Oiltanking colleagues or locations that
possess something striking or interesting that is worthy of mentioning. We start by
looking at Ghent, Belgium — an old but ageless city.
When talking about Belgian cities, one probably tends to
think of Brussels or Bruges at first. However, it is the city of
Ghent that entered the spotlight recently. At the end of
November 2008, the National Geographic Traveler Magazine, a
reference work for anyone who enjoys travel, published the
“Top 109” most authentic destinations worldwide. Ghent was
the highest-ranking city behind Austria’s Wachau Valley and the
area around the Rideau Canal in Ontario/Canada and ahead of
many prestigious cities such as Cape Town/South Africa, Istanbul/
Turkey, Olympia/Greece, or Amritsar/India to name but a few.
Of course, our colleagues in Ghent were already aware of just
how attractive their city is. With a population of about 250,000,
it is the fourth largest city in Belgium and, for some, the real
jewel of the country. The city center alone is a showcase of
awesome architecture demonstrating medieval Flemish wealth
and commercial success. The city’s proud and (in former times)
often rebellious history is reflected everywhere and offers a
splendid combination of grandeur and idyllic charm. However,
and that is what ultimately impressed the jury, the city of Ghent
has not turned into a tawdry, living museum. Instead, in
keeping with its tradition the city is as lively as can be. Not only
has a big art center developed but also the University of Ghent
continues to grow in importance. The presence of so many
young people and students has turned Ghent into an esteemed
cultural center. The harbor, which was of great significance for
Ghent in former times, has evolved into a vital hub for the city’s
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inhabitants. Thanks to the Ghent-Terneuzen canal, sea-going
vessels can bring their products to the city and its industrial
hinterland.
Ghent is also Belgium’s flower city. Every day, flower-growers
from the Ghent region sell their beautiful begonias and azaleas
all over the world at the so-called Kouter — for centuries the
true meeting place for the people of Ghent, though not always
to look at flowers! Then there is the “Gentse Floraliën” (Ghent
Flower Show) that commenced as a modest exhibition of 50
plants and blossomed into a unique exhibition on a grand scale.
This quinquennial show, which will take place for the 34th time
in April 2009, draws thousands to the city.
There are many ways to spend a
lifetime together once you find
Mr. or Miss Right. Of course, one
is the traditional way of tying
the knot officially — like some of
our colleagues did recently.
Amol N. Manekar, Indian
Oiltanking, and Anagha Amol
Manekar tied the knot on May
14, 2007.
For Ad Overdulve, OT
Amsterdam, and Lia Tauber
wedding bells were ringing on
June 7, 2008.
ZHANG Ting, OT Nanjing, and
WEI Lei sealed their love on
February 5, 2009.
Sven Partzsch, OT Singapore,
and Lenny said “I do” on
August 31, 2008.
The multifaceted City of Ghent is truly worth a visit and one can
easily see why it won. Looking forward to seeing you soon and
tot ziens (goodbye)!
Terminal facts
OT Ghent is located at Belgium’s seaport in the heart of
Europe. The terminal comprises a total storage capacity
of 790,000 cbm for chemicals, bio-fuel and petroleum
products (1,000,000 cbm by September 2009). It is
accessible via barge, seagoing vessel, tank truck, railcar
and CEPS (Central European Pipeline System). Turnover
2008: 23.5 m EUR.
Heather Padilla, OT
Houston, became Chris’s
wife on March 17, 2007.
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17
E motions
E motions
Proof of love
Love groove
There are things you do because you have to; there are things you do because you
want to. And then there are the things you do for love …
“All you need is love” is one of the most famous BEATLES songs. However, we realize
that finding love is no easy task.
In Bulgaria, men offer women little talismans called Martenitsa
that consist of a jewel or a small decoration like a flower,
animal or heart tied to a red (as the symbol of spring and/or
love) and white (as the symbol
of winter and/or sincerity)
string. The name of this
Romanian tradition, which
is celebrated on March 1
every year, is derived from the
word March (in Romanian: Martie). Even though the gift
contains many symbols, all of them have three common
senses: revival, sensibility, and the love for women.
How do you find Mr./Miss Right?
Or: Beauty lies …
How do you let him/her know?
Or: The right ingredients
After conducting a study on over 100 people in Britain and
the Hadza of Tanzania (the last hunter-gatherer culture),
lead researcher Dr. Anthony Little from the University of
Stirling, Scotland, revealed that symmetry is an important
factor in many animals’ choice of mate and human beings.
While there may be cultural variations in preferences for
other traits, symmetry transcends racial and national
boundaries: a lopsided face, for instance, is less attractive
to both Hadza and Britons. This adds to the mounting
evidence that the appreciation of beauty has a deep-seated
biological explanation: the attractiveness of a face gives a
profound insight into whether our intended will efficiently
pass our genes on to future generations. Does this mean
the age-old idea of beauty being in the eye of the beholder
is just a romantic myth?
If you just cannot find the right words to tell or write your
loved one how much you care, why not test whether the
way to the heart really is through the stomach? However, it
takes a skillful baker to produce good “love letters” — those
delicate wafers made of coconut milk, sugar and eggs that
are as difficult to make as they are to find. Each is baked in
a metal mould that stamps the biscuit with a pretty print
and has to be removed and rolled or folded before it cools
and hardens. Wonderfully fragrant and paper-thin, it is
guaranteed to melt in your mouth. The chances are high
that the ONE will not be able to resist either …
Bulgaria
In Catalonia, (an autonomous region in Spain), on April
23 sweethearts and lovers commemorate “el dia de la
rosa” (The Day of the Rose) and “el dia
del libre” (The Day of the Book) and
exchange gifts. Historically, men
have been giving women roses on
this day since medieval times. The
giving of books is a more recent tradition:
“A rose for love and a book forever.”
Catalonia
In Japan, some 40,000 visitors a year — mainly women —
pay a visit to the 800-year-old Yasui Konpiragu Shrine in
Kyoto. Determined to improve their love life,
they crawl through this “wish tunnel”
and make offerings in “enkin” rites
to cut the knot. Although the
temple mainly caters to those trying
to break off a relationship or rid
themselves of relationship problems, the temple also offers
match-making services.
Japan
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Nothing is beautiful
or ugly in itself,
Beauty lies
How to round it up?
Or: Does this ring a bell?
The engagement ring is practically a universal tradition. It
is a custom that can be traced back to the ancient Romans.
It is believed that the roundness of the ring represents
eternity. Therefore, wearing a wedding ring symbolizes a
relationship that will last forever. It was once thought that
a vein or a nerve ran directly from the “ring” finger of the
left hand to the heart.
in the beholder’s eye.
The more a thing attracts,
the lovelier it seems.
Verses from Hindi love poet Bihari of the “Satasai”
(Seven Hundred Love Poems)
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19
EMOTIONS
FA M I LY D A Y
Locks
of luck
Bold young fellow Pan
Linqian, the 14-month-old son
of Nancy Xu/Oiltanking Daya
Bay, also had his hair trimmed
on February 26, 2009.
The Chinese Dragon Festival
is held on the second day of the
second month of the Chinese lunar
year — this year, on February 26.
The festival dates back to ancient
astronomy and times when people
used the position of the stars to
tell the time and season. Starting in February of each lunar
year, at dusk the horn stars of the dragon constellation
would appear on the eastern horizon. From then on, the
weather would be quite warm and farmers could start
planting. To commemorate this, February 2 of each lunar
year was chosen for the “Dragon Festival”. This is where
“Oiltanking
worldwide”
painted with a lot
of imagination
and creativity by
children of the
OT employees in
Belgium.
the famous saying “the dragon
will raise its head on February 2”
comes from.
Nowadays, February 2 is more
like “head-shaving day” —
people, especially men, often
choose this day to shave their heads, which symbolizes
shaving the dragon’s head. It is believed that getting one’s
head shaved on this particular day is especially auspicious
and will bring luck. Judging by the queue of parents waiting
for their youngsters’ turn at the barber’s, it is clearly a
tradition that is taken very seriously.
For the record
Kiss me a lot
The fact that a kiss is not just a kiss was demonstrated
by almost 40,000 people who had gathered in the Zócalo,
one of the world’s largest city squares in Mexcio City,
Mexico, on February 14, 2009. They accepted the bid to
break the world record for the most people kissing
simultaneously and, … kissed goodbye to Britain’s accolade.
The kiss-off “Besame Mucho”, or “Kiss Me a Lot”, organized
by the government of Mexico City and the mayor Marcelo
Ebrard, also had an ulterior motive: to bill as a mass protest
against the soaring violence toward women and against
drugs. Although the public display of affection initially
caused some discontent among certain political opponents,
the public outcry swept it out. Needless to say, they
embraced the idea!
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Marry me a lot
There have been cases where couples get married, get
divorced and re-marry the very same partner again or
seem to have a special penchant for picking new ones over
and over again (like Liz Taylor and Richard Burton). In the
case of Lauren Lubeck Blair and David E. Hough Blair of
Tennessee, USA, however, it is a different story. They
married each other for the 83rd time on August 16, 2004,
at the Lighthouse Lounge at the Boardwalk Hotel and
Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA! The adoring couple first
tied the knot in 1984 and since then have exchanged vows
in the USA, UK, and Dutch Antilles. They say that they just
love assuring each other of their love. Probably, they also
do not mind holding the record in the highest number of
marriage vow renewals belonging to the same couple.
The latest Oiltanking Antwerp,
Ghent and Terneuzen family day in
Belgium was captured in a special way.
While about 150 colleagues painted
the German Movie Park in Gladbeck
red, the 80 children also had fun.
Inspired by an Oiltanking brochure,
every child created his/her own
drawing of “Oiltanking worldwide”
using their imagination and the special
children’s paint provided. The results
were so impressive that, later on, the
puzzle parts were glued together to
form one big drawing. Measuring three
by
two
meters,
the
marvelous
masterpiece can now be admired on
the
entrance
wall
at
Oiltanking
Stolthaven Antwerp. Puzzled?
The family day
Time to draw (near).
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21
G oo - G oo ' s
G oo - G oo ' s
Peek-a-boo
There’s no way that we’re going to hide our little OT-newcomers for long. Have a look
and find out who’s who!
Matthew James Heather,
OT Houston, and Chris Padilla
announced the birth of their
son on January 31, 2008.
Victor Raphael Liesel
Weisser, OT Germany, and
Michael were greeted by their
cute little son on May 20, 2008.
Arinjay Amol Manekar Amol
N. Manekar, Indian Oiltanking,
and his wife Anagha Amol
Manekar became happy parents
on August 14, 2008.
Eva Isabelle and Frank RoelsMattheeuws, OT Ghent, received
a sweet addition to the family on
December 30, 2008.
Sarah Sirena Joel Stein, OT
Beaumont, and Lora Sirena had
a cute little baby girl on October
19, 2007.
Klara Erik Bogaert, OT Ghent, and
his wife Veronique Moorkens were
over the moon with the birth of
their daughter on August 17, 2008.
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Tomas Marcela Domecq, Puerto
Rosales Terminal, and Guillermo
Martin announced the birth of
their son on April 7, 2008.
Emilia A sweet little daughter
was born to Eeva-Mari, OT
Kotka, and Petri Lantta on
August 22, 2008.
LIU Ye Ming LIU Xiaocheng,
OT Nanjing, and his wife XU
Wei had a cute baby girl on
April 8, 2008.
Cambry Grace What a
wonderful start to the New Year
for Casey and Curtis Stafford, OT
Beaumont, when their daughter
was born on December 31, 2008.
Nathan Alyn “Waived
hello“ to his parents Aisha
and David Fuentes, OTTC,
on July 18, 2008.
Jacob Kent Additional
men-power for Pam and
Greg Halstead, OTTC,
since July 4, 2008.
Andrew Dung Aaron Bergeron,
OT Beaumont, and Phuong
Nguyen became the proud
parents of a son, who was born
on October 16, 2008.
Shaurya This cute little fellow,
born on April 8, 2008, is the
son of Snehashish Chatterjee,
OT Odfjell Oman, and his wife
Shumi.
Senna Simoon and Matthijs
Post, OT Amsterdam,
became proud parents on
August 14, 2008.
Gabriel Alejandro Loved by
his brother Eduardo as well as
by his parents Ana Aldez and
Javier del Olmo, OT Mexico,
since October 15, 2008.
Ava Jen What a lovely “doll”
was born on November 10,
2008, to Jen and Chase Hall,
OTTC.
Conner Allen This cute
little fellow was born to
Wendi and Cole Parrish,
OTTC, on May 12, 2008.
Lea Luisa Katrin and Christoph
Franke, OT Germany, received a
very special Christmas present
on December 24, 2008.
Hannah Nele en Pieter de
Grauwe, OT Ghent, could
welcome their daughter on
July 2, 2008.
rishabh Nidhi and Jay Saigal,
Indian Oiltanking, are happily in a
threesome since the birth of their
son on May 17, 2008.
Manuel His sister as well as his
parents Julieta and Hernan Pirchio,
Puerto Rosales Terminal, care a lot
for him since August 15, 2008.
Brith Astrid and Imret
Juergenson, OT Tallinn,
announced the birth of their
daughter on December 1, 2008.
Garrick Spencer II A precious
son and heir for Sheena and
Garrick Wydermyer, OTTC, born
on April 24, 2008.
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24
READER’S CORNER
... and action!
Try to solve our riddle and don’t miss the chance to win! Please
send your entries to: connections@oiltanking.com, or contact us
by post:Oiltanking GmbH, connections Team, Admiralitaetstrasse
55, 20459 Hamburg, Germany or by fax: +49(0)40 370 99 499.
CONGRATULATIONS
Quiz solution
The solutions for our last quiz were just masterly! Drawn from the many correct
entries, our lucky winner is Anil Raheja, Oiltanking Odfjell Terminals & Co. LLC,
who will receive an Oiltanking relaxation set. He knew that the master and his
assistant would need two hours and 24 minutes if they worked together. Warm
thanks go out to all the participants. Try out our new quiz — we are sure this
one will be much more interesting than just watching paint dry.
NEW QUIZ
Food for thought
It is time to put on your thinking caps again! Try to
find out the right numbers for our Sudoku puzzle and
maybe you will be our next lucky winner and receive an
Oiltanking ice-box; after all, the first BBQ of the season is
just around the corner! Good luck!
5
3
8
8
3
1
4
6
9
3
1
That‘s cool! When things
start heating up: the
Oiltanking ice-box.
5
9
8
3
8
2
6
5
3
2
6
4
2
5
7
5
1
9
5
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25
Binding power
Countless “locks of love” hang on the wall of the ground terrace
attached to the Seoul Tower on Mount Namsan in central Seoul, South
Korea. Here, after exchanging vows to never separate, sweethearts
throw away the keys in the hope that it will seal their eternal love.
Standing on top of the 262-meter high mountain some 480 meters
above sea level, the tower is definitely the perfect venue for lofty
promises. The only thing that remains is the key question as to just
how effective the locks’ binding powers really are.
IMPRINT connections Vol. 21/1/2009 Published by Oiltanking GmbH, Corporate Center, Admiralitaetstrasse 55, 20459 Hamburg, Germany, www.oiltanking.com, Telephone +49- 40- 370 99 485, Fax +49- 40- 370 99 499
E-Mail connections@oiltanking.com Coordinator Gabi Wuestenberg, Manager Communications Editor Renate Eijkholt Design raz design Print V.I.G. Druck & Media GmbH, Hamburg Published 3 times a year Copy Deadline: vol 21/2 10.06.2009
L ast but not L east