In conversation with Botlek Tank Terminal
Providing employees with a safe workplace
Botlek Tank Terminal (BTT) operates in the Port of Rotterdam, handling the storage and transfer of gasoline, biodiesel, and vegetable oils. The terminal currently has a capacity of around 477,000 m³—and counting.
By the middle of next year, another 130,000 m³ will be added. Not bad, considering the terminal began in 2011 with just 200,000 m³. Director Charles Smissaert: “Good entrepreneurship means truly listening to your customer—and that’s exactly what we do.”
Tripling in capacity
To the uninitiated, the volumes stored by Botlek Tank Terminal may sound enormous. Yet BTT—one of the most environmentally friendly tank terminals in the world—sees itself as a niche player. Gasoline and diesel are stored in “small,” modern tanks, giving BTT the flexibility to serve its customers exceptionally well. The company has tripled its capacity in just eight years—a growth driven by several factors. Charles: “For starters, market conditions have improved significantly since we began. In addition, we’re constantly looking for ways to keep our customers happy and serve them even better. The market we operate in is fairly small. We know every player—and they know us. They know what they want: dock, load or unload—by road or rail—and move on. And all of it at the most competitive price. That’s what BTT delivers.”
We want an inspector who is strict, but also pragmatic—and flexible. That’s what we’ve found in Normec FSS.
Zero tolerance for risk
A company whose core business is the storage and transfer of hazardous materials naturally faces strict regulations—regulations that have only become more stringent over time. Charles: “The fire in Moerdijk and the forced shutdown of one of our competitors caused a shockwave in the industry. That made it even clearer how critical it is to have fire safety in order. Is stricter regulation necessary? The answer is: it’s no longer optional. Public acceptance of any level of risk has dropped dramatically. The government is stepping back. That trend is irreversible. The end user now bears the responsibility—and that end user wants to offer employees a safe workplace.”
Flexibility brings peace of mind
With the increase in regulations, the relationship with the inspection body also becomes more intensive. Normec FSS conducts annual inspections at BTT for the cooling and foam extinguishing systems, as well as the fire alarm and detection systems. What does BTT look for in an inspector? “Someone who thinks along with you, right there at the terminal,” Charles says. “Someone who is strict but pragmatic. And flexible. There have been times we were here on a Saturday with the inspector because a midweek test didn’t go as planned. That’s truly reassuring. You just want everything to be in order.”4o
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