July 15, 2014 [LBC Tank Terminals] - To address the new Emission Control Areas (ECAs) sulfur limitations LBC’s Antwerp terminal has recently added extra storage capacity allowing bunker players to meet the new sulfur oxides limitations, set to be introduced on 1 January, 2015.
LBC’s Antwerp terminal announces it is able to provide an additional 35.000 m3 capacity for storage of distillates and heavy fuel oil.
Emission Control Areas (ECAs) are sea areas in which stricter controls have been established to minimize airborne emissions (SOx, NOx, ODS, VOC) from ships as defined by Annex VI of the 1997 MARPOL Protocol which originally came into effect in May 2005, and which are set to implement new regulations as a part of a phased approach over the coming years, with the next phase due for implementation at the beginning of 2015.
This newly released storage capacity, comprises of six mild steel tanks ranging in size between 5 000 and 6 000 m3. Significantly, this ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 and CDI-T accredited terminal will leverage the site’s existing comprehensive infrastructure, which caters for the transportation of products by water, road and rail, offering customers complete logistical flexibility.
All the tanks benefit from dedicated product lines connected to a 568 m quay that is capable of serving two sea-going vessels and two barges simultaneously, on a 24/7 basis. With an average occupancy below 20%, the barge jetty allocated to bunkers is ideally placed to allow reliable and cost effective bunker operations with the added benefit of optional blending and/or product treatments, should these be required, and a high level of reactivity and flexibility with two site based surveying companies and an in-house customs service. Equally LBC Antwerp is permitted to receive slops and waste waters to maximize barge availabilities and reduce cost of operations.
LBC Antwerp is just one of the LBC Group’s terminals. Together LBC Tank Terminals offers a global storage capacity of close to 2.9 million m3 across its international network of terminals in Europe, USA and China; delivering storage and handling solutions for a range of liquid products, including chemicals, base oils, vegetable oils, mineral oil and petroleum products.
