Elements - Oiltanking

THE WORLD OF OILTANKING VOL. 27/1 APRIL 2015

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TheElements

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E D I TO R I A L

CONNECTIONS2 CONNECTIONS 3

C O N T E N TS

IMPRINT connections Vol. 27/1/2015 Published by Oiltanking GmbH, Corporate Center, Admiralitaetstrasse 55, 20459 Hamburg, Germany, www.oiltanking.com, Telephone +49-40-37099-485, Fax +49-40-37099-499 E-Mail [email protected] Coordinator Gabi Wuestenberg, Manager Communications Editor Renate Eijkholt Design raz design, Hamburg Print BEISNER DRUCK GMBH & Co. KG, Hamburg Published Three times a year Copy Deadline vol 27/2 week 21, 2015

ASIA PACIFIC

INDIA

LATIN AMERICA

EUROPE

Contents

LEISURE &ENTERTAINMENT

MIDDLE EAST

NORTH AMERICA

SOUTH AFRICA

04 Work in Progress

05 Politicians Visit the Hamburg Tank Terminal

06 A Stronger Presence in Northern Germany

20 Talking Turkey

36 Battling the Elements: A Firefighting Drill

21 Re-Charged: Sohar Battery Collection

26 The Power of Water

28 Hurricanes: A Dangerous Triple Threat

46 United on the Way to Advancing the Common Good | Dream Come True

38 Opting for Concrete Tanks

08 Get to Know the New Managing Directors

12 We can, we care ... in Human Resources

14 Cultural Experiences | Mumbai, Sohar, Karimun and beyond

18 Focus, Discipline & Accountability: The Way Forward for IOT

44 In a nutshell

22 The Deepest Man on Earth

30 Goo-Goos

33 I do's

37 Lexicon | Earthing

40 Take a Deep Breath …

43 Number | 673

47 Reader's Corner

48 Last but not least | A Blue Illusion

PEOPLE & PLACES

FIRE36

AIR28

EARTH38

WATER22

Small talk … usually every conversation starts with it before the business or any other formal topic is addressed. An all-time favorite as well as gratifying topic is the weather. Guessing or discussing each other’s star signs and their corresponding elements is also entertaining for some. While it is up to one’s own conviction if and up to what extent astrology influences somebody’s life, it is undeniable that over centuries the four elements, water, earth, fire, and air are symbols of the development of mankind, and coined the conception of many cultures of today’s world.

In a broader sense, Oiltanking’s business developed and also depends on these elements. Among others the earth provides fossil fuels. With the help of fire these can be converted into various useful products. Some of these are stored at different temperatures at our tank terminals, mostly located close to water. Already 43 years a sound company, Oiltanking is present on almost all continents (earth). This has only been possible thanks to the dedicated colleagues who have fervently (fire) contributed to the success story. Seemingly with ease (air) and flexibility new challenges have been embraced and overcome by them.

This will not be any different with the new constellation within the management of Oiltanking GmbH. With

effect from January 1, 2015, we have assumed our role as Managing Directors. While we will jointly manage Oiltanking, we will each have dedicated geographic responsibilities. Having worked for the company for more than 17 respectively 14 years in various management positions, we share a deeply rooted passion for the business and the successful development of this company.

With the Oiltanking “ship” in good shape we are ready to head to new shores and are prepared to navigate uncharted waters and adverse weather. Or, in other words: clean air is not afraid of thunder (Italian proverb).

Hopefully getting the latest news of Oiltanking and learning more about the four elements feels like a refreshing breeze!

Happy reading

Cover: Herbert Nitsch is the current freediving world record holder and "The Deepest Man on Earth". Read more about him on page 22. © Management Herbert Nitsch

The Four Elements

Koen VerniersManaging Director Oiltanking East

Daan VosManaging Director Oiltanking West

AS I A PA C I F I C

The objective of the workshop was to introduce Oiltanking as the first company that is investing in the Oil & Gas Sector in the Karimun Free Trade Zone. A comprehensive, detailed presentation gave the authorities insight into the basic capabilities of the Oiltanking terminal (e.g. loading, discharge, pump over, jetty-to-jetty transfer, blending etc.). The get-together was also aimed at preparing a smooth commissioning and operation of the terminal by making sure all parties have the same interpretation of regulations, and familiarizing everyone with the do’s and don’ts of each operation. Ultimately it was also a good opportunity for a bilateral learning process for both parties. Oiltanking Karimun has been invited for further discussions with closely related authorities (Port Authority, Customs and Tax Office) in the run-up to the second of a total of three workshops to be held this year.

On December 18, 2014, Oiltanking Karimun organized a one-day workshop at the Aston Hotel in Tanjung Balai Karimun, Indonesia. Six colleagues (Farkhan Adisuryo, Snehashish Chatterjee, Yos Effendy, Ferdy Irwan, Didon Rahardjo, Desmon Simatupang) with professional experience ranging from Human Resources to Customer Service, met with 17 officials of the regional Karimun governmental bodies such as the Karimun Free Trade Zone Office, Customs, Tax Office, Quarantine and Police Departments, Department of Transportation, Department of

Immigrat ion and Port Authority.

On October 6, the MEW (Mittelständische Energiewirtschaft Deutschland e. V.) invited politicians and representatives from the business and transport sector to visit Oiltanking in Hamburg, Germany. This provided a good opportunity for an exchange of concerns between politics and small and medium enterprises.

in Progress

E U R O P E

GETTING TO KNOW yOu … Oiltanking colleagues met officials from several public authorities of Karimun, Indonesia, during a workshop

The umbrella organization MEW, the voice of the independent oil and energy industry in Germany had invited business and transport policymakers as well as representatives of the Business and Transport Working Group of the CSU party in the German Bundestag, and the Executive Board of the Junge Union Hamburg to visit Oiltanking in Hamburg at the beginning of October – an invitation they were pleased to accept. In addition to the MEW management, representatives from MEW member companies also attended in order to discuss and exchange ideas with the politicians.

The boat ride between the Hamburg tank terminal and the Harbor Club provided an opportunity for dialogue. At the tank terminal itself, MEW President Walter Dornhof explained the structure of the German oil trade, the importance of tank terminals, and the challenges currently facing the industry to the politicians: "As small and

medium enterprises, we represent 70 percent of the country’s tank storage capacity – we are a mainstay of Germany’s energy supply." Subsequently, at the Hamburg Harbor Club, MEW Managing Director Dr. Steffen Dagger gave a more detailed presentation on the role of SMEs in the oil market and emphasized that: "Practice and policy are interdependent – which is why we are pleased to note the interest by and exchange between business and politics." During his presentation Karl-Heinz Schult-Bornemann, a lecturer at Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg, made it clear that while like all commodities oil and gas stocks are finite, the "confirmed reserves" have been increasing steadily over decades.

Looking back, it was an interesting and fruitful day for everyone involved, during which they were able to discuss various positions and aspects as part of a lively exchange of ideas.

Politicians Visit the Hamburg Tank Terminal

Work

GOOD TEAMWORK H. Cendra (right), head of the Free Trade Zone Karimun, and Snehashish Chatterjee, General Manager PT Oiltanking Karimun, mark the successful start of the workshop and relationship with the authorities

ALL IN THE SAME bOAT Politicians and business representatives took advantage of the opportunity to discuss their points of view


all pictures: © MEW

ChemnitzGera

Hannover

Bremen

Hamm

BendorfHanau

Frankfurt

Karlsruhe

Honau

Breisach

Deggendorf

Duisburg

Hamburg

Kiel

Bremerhaven

Berlin

The Oiltanking family has grown. With the addition of three new terminals in Bremerhaven, Hamburg and Kiel, Oiltanking Deutschland’s network of tank terminals has expanded to 18 sites. The total capacity of the German network is 2.66 million cbm. The three tank terminals will initially continue to operate as separate companies that are wholly owned subsidiaries of Oiltanking Deutschland. It is, however, planned to rebrand the three Bomin tank terminals with the Oiltanking name in the near future. Because of their location, the tank terminals have specific characteristics.

The Bremerhaven tank terminal has a capacity of nearly 100,000 cbm (13 tanks). Important mainstays here are the supply of oil for ship bunkering (gasoil and heavy fuel), local distribution (gasoil), storage of strategic stocks, and treatment of oil-water mixtures. The terminal can be supplied by ship or barge and currently offers ship and truck loading. The construction of a railcar unloading station is currently in planning and is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2015.

The Bomin tank terminal in Hamburg is located directly on the river Elbe and has a total capacity of approximately 115,000 cbm (22 tanks). It currently stores bunker fuels (gasoil and heavy fuel), paraffin, liquid fertilizer and gasoil. Oil-water mixtures can also be recycled here. The terminal can be supplied by ship or barge and railcar, as well as by tank truck. Its high level of flexibility enables a separate storage of various specialty products.

E U R O P EE U R O P E


THREE MORE With the addition of

three tank terminals in bremerhaven, Hamburg and Kiel Oiltanking now

has 18 locations across Germany

On December 31, 2014, Oiltanking Deutschland took over three Bomin tank terminals that had already been owned by the Marquard & Bahls Group since May 2012. The move strengthens Oiltanking’s footprint in northern Germany.

A Stronger Presence in Northern Germany

bremerhaven

Hamburg

The Bomin tank terminal in Kiel is located on the Kiel Canal in the immediate vicinity of the locke. It has a total capacity of 35,000 cbm (11 tanks). In addition

to marine fuels, gasoil and rapeseed oil are stored here. The terminal is almost exclusively supplied by ship.

Kiel

even had lunch together with our spouses and had a great time. Speaking of time, one of the advantages I see in the new structure is that besides managing our business we can also allocate more time to our colleagues and to our stakeholders, such as customers and business partners. We can really be ambassadors for Oiltanking.A real challenge for Oiltanking in my perception will be to safeguard the corporate culture of which we are so proud and that has brought us this far, while we keep on growing in a very dynamic ever-changing world. This also has to do with our company values. It is part of (business) life that we are continuously challenged to compromise on our values, while it is exactly those values that make our company unique and sustainable.

How would you describe your attitude?Koen: I like to think that strong teams are essential to achieving success in a sustainable way. The brilliance of one leader, the perseverance of another, and the lucky hand of yet another are all essential contributors to success but the real value in the long run is created by strong teams with strong contributors to common goals – set by the top, but most importantly: internalized and pursued by all. So I like to see my colleagues and team members

P E O P L E & P L A C E SP E O P L E & P L A C E S

connections: Can you briefly tell us about your educational background?Koen: I studied Economics and Commercial Engineering at the University of Antwerp, with a focus on my area of interest, international politics. Daan: I studied Economics at the University of Amsterdam, specializing in Management Accounting and International Management. From a young age, I had always wanted to work abroad and explore different cultures and countries. I hoped this degree would bring me a bit closer to that goal.

What do you think will be the most demanding task in your new position?Koen: Our business has proven to be resilient in the past few years, during which the global economy, our customers and the markets we serve have gone through difficult times. Some of our traditional markets have seen a material increase in storage capacity. In order to successfully navigate between potential supply-demand imbalances resulting from these trends, we need to continue to strike the right balance between running efficient and service-focused operations, investing in infrastructure improvements, and being ambitious in maximizing top-line revenues. I am confident that our regional and local terminal teams with their experience and commitment are very much up to this task. The dual directorship at Oiltanking with Daan and myself being jointly

Since January 1, 2015, Oiltanking GmbH has a new joint leadership consisting of Koen Verniers and Daan Vos, each with their dedicated geographic responsibilities. Both have worked for Oiltanking for more than 17 and 14 years, respectively, in various management positions, gaining ample experience along the way. Let’s take a closer look at the new Managing Directors.


Get to Know the New Managing Directors

responsible for strategy and corporate development while at the same time each focusing on the well-defined geographic East and West sides of our global business portfolio, offers both opportunities and challenges, of course. Our challenge will be to find enough time to talk and discuss with each other the direction we want to take. With our backgrounds both in business and in Oiltanking, we are confident that we will form a joint view on a common agenda quite naturally. The focus that each of us will be able to apply to our respective business portfolios offers the chance to further strengthen business partnering between the teams in the regions and at the corporate center, in order to ensure swift but well-educated decision making by the shareholders in support of our growth strategy.Daan: To have two MDs at the helm of Oiltanking is indeed a relatively new structure and we need to find our way. I'm however convinced that we will, as our first weeks of cooperation have already created a lot of positive energy, creativity and alignment in views and philosophy. We’ve

Daan Vos Having graduated from the University of Amsterdam with a degree in Economics in 1996, Daan gained his first professional experience outside Oiltanking before joining the company in 2001 as a General Manager in Singapore. After four successful years there, he moved to Hamburg for Oiltanking GmbH in January 2005 to take up his position as General Manager Asia Pacific, Middle East and Europe. In mid-2010 he was appointed Regional Director and was tasked with establishing the Europe Cluster that works from Amsterdam. In January 2015, Daan returned to Hamburg to take on the position of Managing Director of Oiltanking GmbH. In this position he will focus on Europe, Latin America, and North America.

Koen Verniers Koen graduated from the University of Antwerp, Belgium in 1992, and holds a Masters Degree in Applied Economic Science and Commercial Engineering. He began his Oiltanking career as an International Management Trainee in 1997, and was appointed to the position of Marketing & Sales Manager at Oiltanking Houston, USA in mid-1999. At the end of 2000 he was posted to Marquard & Bahls, Hamburg, Germany, as Manager Corporate Finance, then, in 2002, transferred to Oiltanking GmbH as General Manager Economics. In 2004, Koen took on the challenge of serving as General Manager of Oiltanking in Texas City, USA. After spending almost four years in the United States, he moved to Oiltanking Nanjing, China, as General Manager of the joint-venture terminal. In August 2010, Koen became President of Oiltanking Asia Pacific, the regional holding company, responsible for the Asia Pacific region’s business and strategic business planning. In addition, he represented Oiltanking Singapore and Oiltanking Helios Singapore as their Managing Director and Oiltanking Odfjell Terminal Singapore as its Chief Executive Officer. As of January 2015, Koen is Managing Director for Oiltanking East, which puts him in charge of Oiltanking’s business in Africa, Asia Pacific, China, India and Middle East.

entrants fresh from school to highly experienced professionals joining our ranks in the middle of their careers, how so many so quickly somehow connect with who we are, what we stand for and how we engage internally as well as with our external business partners and stakeholders. In other words I like to believe we still somehow

brew the right potion to connect people around the Oiltanking brand. Nobody has the exact recipe for this Oiltanking culture but as long as we continue to foster respect, integrity and reliability within our ranks, I believe we will remain on the right track. Daan: To show our alignment I just want to state my full agreement with Koen’s remarks.

What did you want to become when youwere a child (e.g. policeman ...)?Koen: I wanted to be a medical doctor or market vendor or a shop owner in a hawker center. My inability to deal with so much as one drop of blood effectively struck me out of a medical career. The hawker center appeal is still there but luckily I can channel a lot of that type of energy into my job at Oiltanking as well …Daan: At a very young age, of course I wanted to become a fireman, a fighter pilot and a Formula 1 racing driver. Later on, I also dreamt of being a successful soccer or hockey player.

What makes you laugh / angry?Koen: Silly situational humor, often triggered by a healthy dose of self-reflection amongst friends (or lack thereof in others) always makes for a good laugh. Manipulative behavior is disturbing and can make me angry if indeed it stands in the way of the teamwork that others are genuinely trying to contribute to.Daan: Funny movie scenes can really make me laugh until I’m in tears. I could be the guy sitting next to you on the plane with a headset on, laughing so hard he’s crying. If anyone can recommend movies which I can watch over and over again for this purpose, please give me a call. Happy

to share! What really upsets me is injustice and wrongdoing.

Things you could not do without / thing you like to throw away?Koen: Although I have lived abroad for over 15 years now, I still read the Belgian newspaper from front to back every day. I love it, and at the same time it is also somehow an obsession that I regularly wish I could get rid of. Daan: What I would not like to miss is my family! Ironing shirts is something I really do not like to do. I always push it to the next morning.

best invention of mankind is ...Koen: On a serious note, electricity I think. Not so seriously, the iPad I read that newspaper on every day ...Daan: My first reaction would be “the computer” but let's see what the 3D printer will do ...

Favorite movie/song?Koen: I love to watch and re-watch the "Good, the Bad and the Ugly", both the movie and the soundtrack by Ennio Morricone are classics.Daan: My favorite song is definitely "Disco Inferno" from the Trammps. Brings back very good memories!

One thing you cannot resist?Koen: Chocolate!Daan: Doing things with my two kids, if only playing cards and joking around with each other.

Thing you always carry with youKoen: My phone?Daan: My positive attitude.


succeed at achieving their goals and the goals of their teams. Work hard, play hard, speak your mind, respect and credit to all are values and behaviors I consider critical to foster and continue to stimulate throughout the Oiltanking organization.Daan: I'm generally full of energy and have a positive attitude. I therefore like to think that the glass is half full instead of half empty. In addition I am also resilient and determined. I'm a man of my word and expect that from others as well.Engaging with colleagues and working together is what really motivates me. I like to create the right setting and environment so that people develop themselves. Building up and empowering a team to go after set goals is great and reaching the goals together gives even more energy.

What are the opportunities forOiltanking and where do they lie?Koen: We remain strongly positioned in our traditional markets where we are present at the right locations with state-of-the-art infrastructure and know-how in the local terminal teams, which are recognized by the industry as being top-class. Our reputation remains very strong and that continues to open up opportunities for further growth as well. While we continue to see growth opportunities in those traditional locations, we are also ambitiously looking into further expanding in growth markets such as China, South East Asia, Australia, India and Africa. With the combination of a strong balance sheet, focused growth strategy and the ability to combine skills across group companies, I believe that we will be able to do well, both strengthening our basis and enlarging the footprint of our business in the years to come. Over the last few years, we have expanded and improved our merger & acquisition capabilities throughout the group. Acquisitions will increasingly be a necessary complement to the growth path we have traditionally followed, which was more focused on green- and brown-field expansions.

Daan: Beyond organic growth in uncharted territory and acquisitions, I also feel that there will be opportunities for Oiltanking in businesses that are slightly outside our core business. Possibly linked to our other sister companies. To create such opportunities we will have to be creative. Thinking in a completely different context one could also identify an opportunity in further excelling in what we do today, such as commercial and operational excellence.

What personal traits do you appreciate in colleagues?Koen: I have a sweet spot for colleagues that apply utmost seriousness and dedication to what they do in business and at the same time are always game for a good laugh in and outside the office. Not taking yourself too seriously is another trait that I really appreciate in people.Daan: I really appreciate when colleagues show a passion for our company and our business, and a strong commitment to doing a very professional job day-in day-out.

Do you think the Oiltanking spirit has changed?Koen: We have been growing tremendously over the last years and decade. The world around us is constantly changing, as are the markets we operate in, so obviously our company is changing as well. Given the changing environment we operate in and the rate of growth we continue to enjoy, we should always be reviewing processes in order to ensure that we can continue to encourage entrepreneurship and empowerment of our teams in the business while also making sure to complement this with appropriate governance and compliance expectations. As to our spirit, I continue to be impressed by how, across all the geographies we operate in, so many new colleagues, ranging from new

The world around us is constantly changing, as are the markets we operate in, so obviously our company is changing as well.

I like to create the right setting and

environment so that people develop

themselves.

CONNECTIONS 11CONNECTIONS10

„A Human Resources meeting … in Mumbai?! In recent years Oiltanking has grown rapidly, and so has its workforce. The world has become much more globalized and in fast-changing markets, dedicated employees who identify strongly with the company are an important competitive advantage. The obvious consequence is that some HR services also become more globalized. The International HR Meeting has become an integral part of the annual HR calendar. Regional and corporate HR managers come together for three days to discuss and reflect on the company’s business needs and how to further advance global HR services, define HR policies and share best practices from around the globe.

“We had invited the HR teams on numerous occasions to come to India and unfortunately

kept having to postpone it, but with the change in the IOT management, colleagues took the chance to come to India to wish Jayanta Bhuyan farewell and to welcome Vivek Venkatachalam as new Managing Director IOT (see also page 18),” comments Nawin. Meeting in India also prompted a focus on Indian HR in particular. “It was very informative for us to see and learn how the Indian HR colleagues handle the business challenges India is facing,” comments Judith. While Europe is confronted with a greying demographic, India’s population is getting younger. Today, over 45 percent of India’s population of 1.26 billion is under 30 years old. Besides the Indian HR challenges, the agendas' major points of discussion ranged from, just to name a few, Talent Management, Leadership Development programs, Compensation topics, global job description project, and regional and global HR goals 2015. The meetings held at the IOT office in Mumbai kicked off with an impressive guided tour of the company’s flagship terminal in Navghar, followed by an informal dinner that set the tone for the next three days.

A global meeting offers the perfect opportunity to get to know each other or catch up with colleagues from other HR departments. Experiencing the local conditions and seeing first-hand how HR matters are handled elsewhere always contributes to a better

understanding. Coordinating and aligning the activities of the various regional and group HR teams will continue to be one of the priorities for the further development of HR within the company. The aim is to have a common understanding how to develop global talents, and knowing you have the right person in the right place at the right time.

The HR colleagues strive to meet

regularly, once or twice a year, mainly in Hamburg – and ideally, abroad every once in a while. Even between meetings, the HR colleagues stay in touch, exchanging information in regularly scheduled conference calls and via virtual platforms. Besides that they collaborate very closely e.g. on international assignments / postings.

“All in all, we came back with lots of valuable information and new ideas. And, I am still impressed by the great hospitality of the Indian HR colleagues,” summarizes Judith.

P E O P L E & P L A C E S



picture: © China National Tourist Office

We can, we care ...

Employees are the foundation of the success of our businesses. Given the company’s strong growth in recent years, Human Resources (HR) has come to play an increasingly important role. At the recent global HR meeting in Mumbai, India, eleven regional and corporate HR managers came together to discuss the various business needs and how to reflect those in HR services and global HR goals for 2015. Host Nawin Chandra, HR Manager IOT, and Judith Jähnke, Team Lead Global Mobility & Compensation Management (head office), give a summary.

To me, being responsible for international assignments, it is always very interesting to get an impression of the local working and living conditions. Judith Jähnke

The meeting was a perfect balance of work and understanding the Indian way of doing business and HR in India. I am happy that we could give other colleagues a glimpse of Incredible India and that they could experience it first-hand. Nawin Chandra

FOCuSED The global HR meeting was a good example for fostering closer cooperation and greater efficiency

in Human Resources

After spending 22 years of my life in a city in the foothills of the Himalayas in India, I was offered a job in Mumbai as part of Oiltankings’ first terminal project in India. It was a step full of excitement and anxiety. I was to travel 1,600 km from home to the coastal city of Mumbai to join the startup team of the Navghar terminal as a trainee in operations.

That was 1998 and little did I know that this was just the start of a journey which would take me from the deserts of Rajasthan to the coast of Mumbai in India, to the Strait of Hormuz and the Omani desert, and then all the way to Indonesia.

Karimun is an island in the Strait of Malacca, a beautiful place. Mountains with lush green forests, a busy little town that still has a certain old-world charm, where people smile at strangers and shopkeepers know your name and family. It


C U LT U R A L E X P E R I E N C E S

Born in Chandigarh, India, Snehashish “Chatto” Chatterjee has had a career at Oiltanking that resembles a multifaceted tour of exotic places from mountains to desert landscapes to the sea. Join him as he reminisces about his postings on his way home on yet another ferry.

It is January 2015 as I write this on board a ferry from the island of Karimun in Indonesia where I work, to another Indonesian island called Batam. That is where I live with my wife and two sons. For someone born near the mountains, the sea remains a distant mythic entity. And looking across the water, with small waves lapping against the ferry, I remember how it all began …

PORTRAIT Snehashish “Chatto” Chatterjee joined Oiltanking in June 1998 as an Operations Trainee at the Oiltanking Terminal in Navghar / Mumbai, India. After seven years and having gained experience in his position as

Maintenance Engineer, Project Manager (IOT EPC), he moved to Sohar to work as Terminal Manager for Oiltanking Odfjell Oman. In October 2014, he took up the position as General Manager of PT Oiltanking Karimun, Indonesia.

FROM DAy ONE Chatto was part of the Sohar project team and worked as Terminal Manager

is also the island where Oiltanking is building a terminal with a capacity of 760,000 cbm. A team of dedicated Oiltankers are working day and night against all odds to make this project a reality by the fourth quarter of 2015. I have been part of this team since October 2014. Apart from the fact that the project provides an opportunity to live in and work very closely with Indonesian culture, it is also a melting pot of various cultures ranging from Chinese, European, Indian, and Singaporean. Colleagues from all over the world have come together to make this project a reality, the culmination of years of experience in building and operating complex terminals within Oiltanking.

I also witnessed this infectious vigor and can-do-attitude some years earlier in Sohar, Oman. I was fortunate to be part of the Sohar project from day one – in 2005 – when Oiltanking started building one of the group’s biggest and most diverse terminals. But I also had the privilege to live and experience the rich culture of Oman, which is often referred to as the

Mumbai, Sohar,

Karimunand beyond

C U LT U R A L E X P E R I E N C E S

WELL-ROuNDED Chatto's postings

brought him to most different places

CONNECTIONS16

C U LT U R E E X P E R I E N C E S

cultural center of the Middle East. During the nine years I spent in Oman, I enjoyed the hospitality of its proud and kind people and was amazed in equal parts by its diverse nature and topography. Sixteen years is a long time, and yet to me it feels like it was just yesterday I was packing my bags to move to Mumbai. It has been a journey filled with challenges and triumphs, a journey in which colleagues have become close friends.

During these years I have learnt that cultures can be different but people across nations are tied together with the common threads of humanity. Politeness and honesty is as important in Indonesia as it is in Oman and India. Every society believes in the fact that honest, hard work pays off and this is a lesson that is handed down over the generations in every family. I have also learned that happiness cannot be bought ready-made over the counter – we have to create our own and invest a lot of time and energy in doing so. This lesson was taught to me by my wife and family who have been positive and strong companions in this journey.

Even though I have moved across countries and regions I find that Oiltanking is a family with its own distinct culture which cuts across

CONNECTIONS 17

C U LT U R E E X P E R I E N C E S

KARIMuN FERRy TERMINAL The geographical connection between Chatto and his family who lives on a different island

continents. The warm farewell given to me by the colleagues in Sohar was matched by the welcome given to me by the colleagues in Asia: one made it very difficult to leave, and the other made me feel at home immediately. This I believe is

something unique within Oiltanking, which we should seek to preserve over time.

The rumbling docking of the ferry at the harbor brings my recollections to a halt. Now I look forward to meeting my own family again after being away for a week. For us, the journey goes on and hopefully this time next year we will take this ferry together for the inauguration of a world-class terminal.

TRADITION MEETS MODERN AGE The Palace of Assembly in Chandigarh was designed by the noted architect Le Corbusier

HOME OF SNOW The Indian part of the Himalayas forms the northern

boundary of the country

tristan tan / Shutterstock.com

HAPPy FAMILy The time when Chatto comes home on the weekends is much valued

How do you see IOT tapping opportunities presented by the new government at thecentre in India? How will theseopportunities lead to profitable growth?India is generating a lot of positive sentiment internationally for the growth opportunities it presents as the new government drives efficiency in execution and decision making through: speed (faster bureaucracy and quicker response), scale (economy of scale in manufacturing), and skill development (favorable demography where over 45 percent of 1.26 billion people are under the age of 30*). Today, India’s high growth areas include Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy,

infrastructure and Power Plants thanks to the government’s “Make in India” campaign. These growth areas are a good match with IOT’s competencies, e. g.:• IOT Anwesha has already created a modest manufacturing footprint in Gujarat and the team is evaluating products and components that are adjacent to and part of our value chain.• Terminalling will continue to focus on liquid storage. At the same time, we are exploring opportunities in the LPG sector as we are likely to see heavy government spending there.• The EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) business has an excellent track record as an end-to-

end EPC services provider; Apart from Larsen & Toubro, we are the only company providing these services in India.• IOT Engineering Projects (IOTEP) has tremendous experience in constructing Power Plant infrastructure.

Clearly, IOT is in the right place at the right time. However, we cannot have an entitlement mindset because everything in this world has to be earned. So we shall aim to do the small things right and enjoy the future market upside.

What do you think is the most challenging task in your new role?IOT has a rich history of over 18 years, but we will need to selectively unlearn our past and learn new things. As the company grows into a multinational organization operating in different geographies and businesses, we face some key challenges. The talent has to adapt to the changing needs of new customers and geographies. We have to move out of our comfort zone to operate in an ambiguous and complex environment, and restructure the organization for sustained profitability. Building trust and credibility with our shareholders and customers is crucial.

How would you accelerate theexisting synergies between IOT and Oiltanking?Oiltanking’s current growth markets are in the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia and IOT is a natural partner for building infrastructure. IOT must leverage its synergies and earn the business to penetrate these markets together. We will continue to effectively pursue East of Suez forums

to talk about our capabilities and mutually share areas of growth.

Over the past few months you have interacted with many people at IOT and Oiltanking. Please share your impressions.I am very impressed especially with the domain expertise, dedication and positive attitude of IOTians and Oiltankers. The talent is up there to compete with the best in the world. In many ways IOT and Oiltanking have similarities, with new management in place to confront market challenges. While the market is filled with many opportunities, our ability to adapt to change and to embrace change quickly, will determine our future growth.

What will be IOT's strategy in 2015 for a profitable growth of its businesses?Over the past few months, I have been talking about the idea of IOT 2.0, a concept where the implementation of three strategic priorities will help us achieve sustained profitability. Broadly, they are:Focus: We will focus on growing our terminalling business and stabilizing the EPC Business. In EPC we will play

in the areas of terminals, O&G off sites and power plants.Discipline: We will exercise strict commercial and financial rigor to ensure that we execute projects on time and within cost, and most importantly that we collect our receivables.Accountable: We will have to be accountable to our customers, suppliers and to each other.

Together these three tenets form the core of a strategy to ensure profitable and sustainable growth of IOT’s businesses.

What is your inspiration?Success inspires me! What inspires success are: mutual respect and trust, focus on finding solutions, transparent and open communication.

What do you do in your spare time?As a family, my wife, my two sons and I like to spend time outdoors doing activities such as road trips, running, swimming and trekking. We also like to explore good restaurants and street food in new locations.


Vivek Venkatachalam stepped in as Managing Director of IOT starting January 1, 2015, after a 13-year stint at General Electric (GE) leading its Power Conversion, Oil & Gas and Water businesses. He spoke to connections about how he plans to use his experience in business growth and talent development to further grow IOT with sustained profitability. Excerpts from the interview:




Clearly, IOT is in the right place at the right time. However, we cannot have an entitlement mindset because everything

in this world has to be earned.

The Way Forward for IOT

* Source: Index Mundi India Demographics Profile 2014

Focus, Discipline & Accountability:


Aliaga, a town in Izmir province, known for its ship-breaking and tourism industry, will soon be known for a state-of-the-art, ten-million-metric-ton refinery. A greenfield project, the STAR Refinery is a joint venture between SOCAR Turkey Enerji A.Ş. and TURCAS Rafineri Yatirmlari, which is slated to need a tank farm comprising 66 tanks and eight LPG spheres with a total storage capacity of approximately 1.6 million tons.

The contract for the engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and commissioning of the refinery facilities has been awarded to a consortium consisting of Técnicas Reunidas (TR), Italy, GS Engineering & Construction, South Korea, and Itochu, Japan. This consortium (collectively called TSGI) plans to sub-contract the EPC of the tank farm portion of this refinery in two parts. The first portion was recently won by IOT Infrastructure & Energy Services Ltd (IOT) and its joint venture company IOT-VITO. Getting this project was a challenge since the list of sub-contractors for this project had already been prepared and approved when IOT approached TSGI. But the company’s excellent track record, experience of working in the Middle East and EPC

strengths convinced the consortium to add IOT to the list. While IOT India will be in charge of the engineering and procurement, the construction of the tanks will be handled by IOT-VITO, a new joint venture company being established in Turkey. Based out of Istanbul, VITO specializes in small construction projects in the fields of power generation and oil & gas. The company also trades and provides consultancy services to various EPC companies and has acquired a lot of experience constructing numerous gas-fired power plants in Turkey.

The project is worth approximately US$ 117 million for mechanical works consisting of 43 tanks and eight Horton spheres weighing approx. 27,500 MT in total. It consists of the EPC of tanks with diameters of between 7 m and 82 m, which will hold crude as well as products such as naphtha, toluene, xylene, etc. The LPG spheres will vary in diameter from 18 m to 22 m. The engineering and design work began in November 2014 and in the following 29 months, a multicultural team will work together to complete this prestigious contract, which will considerably strengthen IOT’s footprint in Turkey.

In early August 2012, Oiltanking Odfjell Oman (OOTO) organized a training session for all operators aiming to reduce waste at their sites, on sustainability and on how to take care of the environment, particularly at the OOTO terminal in Sohar. The workshop revealed that batteries were disposed of as household waste rather than collected separately. Eventually they end up in landfills where the heavy metals they contain, e. g. mercury, in combination with the high outside temperatures pose a serious health and environmental threat. OOTO saw the need for action and checked with various private and government organizations to see what could be done. With the help of a Dutch team and sponsored by Sohar Aluminium, Sohar Port and Freezone, Jusoor (a social responsibility nonprofit organization) and OOTO, the Sohar Battery Collection Project was born.

In mid-November 2012, a project trial was launched at OOTO. In early December, the first “emptying the bin” ceremony was held, revealing that an astonishing nearly one kg of batteries had been collected by OOTO employees in just two weeks. The Sohar Battery Collection Project was officially launched on November 28, 2012, at the Safeer Mall in Sohar. The project was communicated to a large number of shoppers, and a battery collection bin placed in the mall to be emptied monthly. To date, almost 1.2 tons of batteries have been collected in 23 different

locations in Sohar. OOTO contributes 2.9 percent of the total collection, an average of two kg monthly. All the batteries collected are first sorted before being safely stored in special bins at a hazardous-waste storage site.

Information dissemination and awareness campaigns are being carried out, especially at schools, universities and private companies. All activities are published in major dailies for a wider reach. Promoting the segregation of wastes at source is very important for better waste management, especially in countries like Oman, where waste generation is increasing e. g. due to changing lifestyles, urbanization and industrialization.

In September 2013, Sohar University provided office space for the Sohar Battery Collection Project and offered administrative support. OOTO is happy with the positive results, but will continue to sponsor the initiative as part of its sustainability advocacy. The HSSE team is setting up plans to be even more active in environmental protection.

In September 2014, IOT and its joint venture company, IOT-VITO, won a contract for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of tanks for the STAR Refinery at Izmir, Turkey, opening up an exciting new market for IOT’s EPC business.

The Sohar Battery Collection, a volunteer-driven campaign for better waste management practices,

is entering its third year. The project, originally launched at Oiltanking Odfjell

Oman, is becoming ever more popular. Time to review its origins and development.

M I D D L E E AS TI N D I A

RE-CHARGED Colleagues at the Oiltanking Odfjell terminal aim to collect as many used batteries as possible and recycle them

Re-Charged

Talking Turkey

CONNECTIONS22

L E I S U R E & E N T E RTA I N M E N T

Have you always enjoyed being in the water? Yes, I’ve always loved the water. As a kid I did a lot of sailing and windsurfing. In high school I was on the swim team. I also liked water skiing and scuba diving until I discovered freediving in 1998. At first I didn’t even know it was a real sport!

you are a professional pilot by training.What made you decide to quit your job and devote your time to exploring the depths of the ocean?I stopped being an airline captain in 2010 to fully pursue the ultimate discipline called No Limit* in freediving. I had been flying full-time during the preceding decade, and treated freediving as a hobby, competing on the side. My motives were to push my boundaries and explore the limits of my body and mind. It is amazing how freediving can motivate you, because you are able to see big improvements in a very short time.

How would you describe the feeling of being underwater? During a competition, I am completely focused on the task at hand. When I descend, I usually have my eyes closed, as it is pitch-black down there anyway. When I’m freediving for fun, it is magical and feels like a dream to interact with large marine creatures. Scuba divers are not as mobile due to their equipment and make a lot of noise, so they miss out on a lot. I can hear them from far away, and so can most marine life, which therefore shies away from them. When I explore caves, shipwrecks, etc. it can feel eerie or spooky at times. And, when freediving over a beautiful coral formation or swimming in the midst of a tuna vortex, I feel like a kid in a candy store.

How do you prepare for a dive?It depends whether I’m competing or diving for fun. In competitions there are distance and depth disciplines, each requiring a different kind of preparation. But for any freedive there is always the Golden Rule: Never dive alone. Another

good practice is to not eat for several hours before a dive, but to be well hydrated. Freediving is not an extreme sport in the sense that it sends adrenaline pumping through your veins. On the contrary, it is of utmost importance to be as relaxed as possible. So preparing for a dive includes simple relaxation techniques to reach a super relaxed state, as if just waking up on a lazy Sunday morning. Another aim is to conserve oxygen, so it is better to take your time underwater, and not rush as this will almost certainly reduce your dive time. And to achieve greater depths, there are ways to reduce the blood pressure prior to a descent, and to trigger the mammalian dive reflex before leaving the surface.

“Each time I think I’ve reached a limit … there is a door … it opens … and the limit is gone,” says Herbert Nitsch. The Austrian freediver, who holds 33 world records in all of the sport’s various disciplines, including freediving to a record depth of 253 m, is an amazing and inspiring example of endurance, concentration, discipline, encouragement and a

committed promoter of safety measures and their application.

We invite you to take a deep breath and immerse yourself in what he loves doing best!

DeepestThe

Man on Earth

CONNECTIONS 23


"THE DEEPEST MAN ON EARTH" This prestigious title was given to Herbert Nitsch when he set the world record for freediving at an incredible depth of 214 m in 2007 in the No Limit discipline

PARTICuLAR PERSONAGE unlike other elite freedivers Herbert

Nitsch is self-taught and a pioneer in every way

CONNECTIONS 25

L E I S U R E & E N T E RTA I N M E N TL E I S U R E & E N T E RTA I N M E N T

How many people assist you during a dive, and what are their tasks?In No Limit freediving, there is a team of approximately ten persons who provide assistance: technicians, an oceanographer, mechanics, safety freedivers, and a film team. In other disciplines, I have nobody assisting me (other than the competition’s assigned safety divers). I have no coach or trainer, because I prefer to train on my own, on my own time, and in my own way. Sometimes colleagues will help out as a “buddy” or “temporary coach” on a competition day, something we all do for each other.

What kind of diving technique do you use to take in more air?All top freedivers use packing during competitions. It is also called “buccal pumping,” and involves using the epiglottis** as a piston to pump more air into the lungs. In my case I expand my 10 l lung capacity to 15 l. Two-thirds of this air (yes, 66 percent!) is used for equalization on the way down during depth disciplines. I invented and use an EQUEX (equalization extension tool), which I used on my 253 m No Limit dive. I breathe all air into this device (a coke bottle!) at 20 m depth before diving deeper, and then use it to equalize the pressure in my ears and sinuses. Deep diving on empty lungs mimics the technique used by

marine mammals, and combined with the EQUEX allows me to reach deeper depths.

What measures do you take to ensure a safe dive?In competition, the safety measures depend on the discipline***. During static apnea and distance disciplines it is easy to monitor the freedivers, as they are on or near the surface. In depth disciplines, all kinds of safety measures are taken, such as a lanyard attached to the freediver and the descent rope, cameras at the bottom plate, sonar at the surface, safety freedivers, safety scuba divers, doctors on the platform, and so forth. In No Limit diving, the safety systems are incredibly complex and there are many of them because of the great depths reached. In addition, there are various safety and emergency plans for different scenarios, all well-rehearsed. When I first started with the No Limit discipline in 2005, I was astonished by the incredible lack of safety measures. So I made my own safety adjustments, e. g. I subsequently designed all of my own No Limit sleds and affiliated systems. The last one cost a whopping Euro 250,000, with

most of the money invested in safety and security systems. Everything on my sleds has one or more back-up-plans that have to work both mechanically and manually.

you hold 33 World Records and barelysurvived a freediving accident. Whatpushed/pushes you to go further?It’s the drive to explore the unknown, cross physiological boundaries and achieve goals that seem beyond the limits. That’s how I set world records in all of the eight freediving disciplines*** (no one else has achieved this), and an additional one in the traditional Greek sponge-dive discipline called Skandalopetra. The human body is amazing, and I am intrigued by exploring how far (or deep!) I can go. After my deepest dive in June 2012, I had severe decompression sickness. In my case this resulted in multiple brain strokes. The initial diagnosis was that I would be wheelchair-bound for life. I did not accept this and discharged myself from a long-term care facility, and stopped taking all medicine. Taking my health and fitness routines back into my own hands was the best decision of my life. By using the same approach I had always taken with freediving, and by believing that our bodies are indeed amazing, I quickly discarded the wheelchair. Now, two years later, I’m fit and freediving again.

What are your goals for the future?You can’t really make a living from competitive freediving as it costs more than the prize money you can win. I was lucky to have had my job as an airline pilot to pay for it. Nowadays I give lectures around the world and write – among other things I am writing my autobiography – to support my favorite pastime. And, a few good sponsors help too, of course! One of my future goals is to build the ocean-going eco boat I’m designing, and live on it for six months a year. Another one is to build a submarine. I also hope to help protect oceanic wildlife and environments through my function as a member of the Ocean Advocacy Advisory Board of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

CONNECTIONS24

AGAINST ALL ODDS After a severe No Limit

dive accident Herbert Nitsch is training and

freediving again

STuNNING Herbert Nitsch can pump 15 l of air into his lungs and hold his breath for more than nine minutes

* In No Limit freediving, the freediver uses a non-propelled, non-electronic sled construction that slides into the depths with a ballast weight. A lifting device is used to get it back to the surface.

** Tissue at the end of the tongue that flops over the windpipe when one swallows to keep food from getting into the lungs.

*** There are eight recognized disciplines in freediving: two for distance (dynamic apnea with fins and without); one for static (the freediver is head-down in the water for as long as he can hold his breath); three for depth without and two for depth with sled.

HIGH STANDARD being keen about every

technical detail he designs his own equipment

periphery, Texas City is well protected against devastation from powerful tidal surges. However, being located on the sea, the Oiltanking Texas City Terminal facility is outside the safe boundaries.

Hurricane heel as safety measure

Taking into account the experiences gained from previous hurricanes, Oiltanking Texas City (OTTC) took preventive measures to reduce the impact of hurricanes striking the Galveston and Texas City area during the U.S. hurricane season (from June to November). According to the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale used in the Atlantic Ocean, hurricanes are categorized from 1 to 5 based on their intensities and wind speed. Although the classification is based primarily on wind speeds, it can also give some indication of potential damage from storm surge, which is the abnormal rise of water over and above the predictable astronomical tide due to a storm.

The terminal defined a “hurricane heel,” which is the minimum level of product required in a tank to avoid the tanks having enough buoyancy to float if subjected to a certain water surge. Based on the Archimedes Principle, or physical law of buoyancy, the total weights of the tanks and their products was calculated against the weight of the sea water displaced by the tanks during the storm surge. It is interesting to note that most of the tanks at the Oiltanking terminal would float if surrounded by just 25 cm of seawater.

In September 2008, three years after Hurricane Rita hit the Galveston bay, Hurricane Ike was pronounced a Category 2 hurricane at landfall in Texas. Although its intensity was lower than previously expected, authorities estimated the storm surge at 6.1 m, slightly above the reference 5.5 m considered in the hurricane heel scenario at OTTC.

Thanks to the preventive measures taken at OTTC, of the terminal’s more than 100 tanks, only one (TK 3749) was displaced from its foundation, and without major damage to its integrity. The storm surge also affected numerous electrical motors, electrical panels and transformers, heavily impacting the terminal’s operations. Only a few months later, thanks to the untiring efforts of Oiltanking personnel, the terminal was back in full operation,

including Tank TK 3749 back in its foundations, after being re-floated and relocated. Oiltanking had gotten a little taste of the power of water.

Waterof

The


Hurricanes are among the fiercest storms in nature’s repertoire. The four greatest dangers posed by hurricanes are extreme wind speeds, storm surges, torrential rains and tornadoes. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf of Mexico in 2005, serious concerns started to be raised in the industry regarding the impact of such natural disasters on storage facilities. Experience had already shown that storm surges produced by hurricanes could unleash enough force to move aboveground storage tanks away from their foundations. Apart from the damage and direct losses to the terminal infrastructure, there was a potential environmental problem involving product spills into the ground or water, which required preventive action.

In 1935, the authorities in Texas City, USA, authorized the construction of a dike designed to reduce the accumulation of sediment. Years later, this Texas City Dike had become the primary defence against potential encroachment of water from Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, Texas City is surrounded by a 27 km levee system that was built in the early 1960s. Together with pump stations located at various places throughout its northeast

Each year from June through November, Texas faces the threat of hurricanes. While coastal communities are most at risk, the state’s inland areas are also vulnerable. The Oiltanking terminal in Texas City, located on the exposed southwest shoreline of Galveston Bay, has learned from the past and has defined a “hurricane heel.”

N O RT H A M E R I C A N O RT H A M E R I C A

RAVAGES Hurricane Ike’s landfall in Texas in 2008 had a lasting destructive impact

N O RT H A M E R I C A

� As soon as a storm is predicted to threaten the Gulf Coast, the Hurricane Alert Awareness Plan is activated: e. g. weather channels are monitored, stocks of bottled water and fuel are increased, hotel reservations are made.

� T-72 Action Plan (Port Condition Whiskey): with sustained gale-force winds predicted within 72 hours, the preparation of the Severe Weather Plan begins. This involves determining when non-essential personnel will be released, moving portable pumps to safe locations, and notifying customers of the potential shutdown of the terminal facilities.

� T-48 Readiness Action Plan (Port Condition X-ray): with sustained gale-force winds imminent within 48 hours, the implementation of the Severe Weather Plan begins. E. g. all computers and electrical equipment are brought to safe locations, and tank cars are removed from the terminal.

� Warning T-24 Action Plan (Port Condition yankee): commercial operations have to stop, e.g., and the terminal staff is evacuated except for the skeleton crew.

� Final Alert T-12 Action Plan (Port Condition Zulu): sustained gale-force winds are predicted within twelve hours and hurricane conditions are expected to follow; the terminal is shut down, secured and all employees evacuated.

� Post-Hurricane Action Plan: the threat of the hurricane has been lifted; now e. g. damage survey, repairs and the cleanup of debris will be organized.

The hurricane preparation plan is updated and revised regularly. Coupled with years of hurricane experience, it ensures that the colleagues in Texas City are perfectly prepared to face stormy periods.

All eyes on the hurricane

Huricanes begin as tropical storms over the warm moist waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans near the equator (Storms to the west of the InternationalDate Line are called typhoons; cyclones refer to the ones in the Indian and South Pacific Ocean.). As the moisture evaporates, it rises until enormous amounts of heated moist air are twisted high into the atmosphere. The winds begin to circle counterclockwise north of the equator or clockwise

south of the equator. The relatively peaceful center of a hurricane is called the eye. Around this center, winds move at speeds of between 120 and 320 km per hour. As long as the hurricane remains over waters of 26° C or warmer, it continues to pull moisture from the surface and grow in size and force. When a hurricane crosses land or cooler waters, it loses its source of power. The winds gradually slow until they are no longer of hurricane force (less than 120 km per hour).

With the potential hurricane threats the order of the day is: be prepared! Thanks to their Hurricane Plan the colleagues at the Oiltanking terminal in Texas City know exactly the emergency procedures to manage risks associated with hurricanes. It also provides necessary steps for the safe, orderly, and timely shutdown of the terminal. If conditions so dictate, the terminal will be left in a safe condition, prepared to withstand the hurricane. Here is how the plan works (though not in comprehensive detail):

� In May each year a “pre-season action plan” ensures that e. g. housekeeping efforts are increased, hurricane teams are put together and hurricane minimum tank levels are closely monitored.


COMPLIANCE In an emergency,

specified route signs help people to find the correct and escape route


Hur iianesiaA Dangerous Triple Threat

ZHANG MO A darling little girl for Ge Lijuan and Zhang Wei, Oiltanking Nanjing, born July 15, 2014.


G O O - G O O S G O O - G O O S

ALESSANDRA Marlet and Arles Zelaya, Oiltanking Port Neches, have been smiling parents since October 25, 2013.

LI yIXuAN Zhang Yan and Li Jin, Oiltanking Nanjing, have been proud parents since November 27, 2014.

LIu ZI XI A bundle of joy for Lu Miao Xia and Liu Shi Qiang, Oiltanking Daya Bay, arrived on December 3, 2014.

MAXIMILIAN Since November 30, 2014, Britt Wenckebach, Oiltanking GmbH, and her husband Uli have been a happy family of three with their little baby boy.

ARTHuR A bundle of joy was born to Lorena Maroto and Vilmar Souza, Oiltanking Terminais, on August 2, 2014.

yANG CHuANRuI He Jing and Yang Le, Oiltanking Nanjing, proudly announced the birth of their son on November 9, 2014.

JIANG HAN yuE A sweet girl was born to Jessica Wang Bei and Jiang Xiao Lei, Oiltanking Daya Bay, on July 18, 2013.

ALATHRAA Fatma Al Ajmi, Oiltanking Odfjell Oman, and Jafer Al Ajmi, became proud parents on July 6, 2014.

EMILIA An adorable little girl was born to Daniela Dotzauer and Alfredo Lafuente, Oiltanking Terminais, on April 18, 2014.

WANG ZIqIAN Since the birth of their son on May 3, 2014, the life of Mandy Xiao and Wang Zhucao, Oiltanking Nanjing, has become even more colorful.

ZHANG ZHIDONG Zhang Jie and Zhang Xu, Oiltanking Daya Bay, celebrated a bouncing male addition to the family on November 16, 2013.

ZHuANG RuILu Xu Qing, Oiltanking Nanjing, and her husband Zhuang Xiaowei have been privy to the joys of parenthood since December 13, 2013.

XIONG XIAN First smiled at his parents Yang Jia Mei and Xiong Gui Meng, Oiltanking Daya Bay, on March 7, 2014.

JADEN A bundle of joy was born to Ruth Ng, Oiltanking Singapore, and Jason Chan, on July 21, 2014.

WANG ZITONG Wang Jing and Wang Liwei, Oiltanking Nanjing, are the delighted parents of a son since December 14, 2014.

REEM AND ALI Double happiness was bestowed on Amal Saleh and Mustafa Juma Al Balushi, Oiltanking Odfjell Oman, on December 11, 2014.

Waterlock

That's Good

News: These

Oiltanking babies

Arrived!

Changing diapers (especially without getting wet oneself) can

be a science all its own. And diapers played a central role in

recent research by Professor Edward Boyden, neuroscientist at the

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, USA. In their search to

achieve super-high resolution in lab microscopes, he and two colleagues came across sodium polyacrylate (also

called waterlock), a superabsorbent polymer that is commonly used in diapers. Taking this effect into account, they succeeded in developing a new method to physically inflate tissues (expansion microscopy). This allows for examining objects in exquisite molecular detail using an ordinary microscope. But now it’s time to turn our attention to our youngest Oiltankers, who are admittedly (still) quite small but will be growing very soon!

for a Really Close Look

HuANG ZIMO Huang Shijie, Oiltanking Nanjing, and his wife Bian Panpan were over the moon with the birth of their son on February 5, 2014.

ANDRé ALEJANDRO This little swimmer, born on June 5, 2014, is showered with love by his parents Gina Patricia Ipanaqué Pinto and Cristhian Gallo Feijoo, Consorcio Terminales.


G O O - G O O S I D O ’ S

JOãO PEDRO MARTINS Tatiana Valois and Hugleydson Thom, Oiltanking Terminais, laid proud eyes on their son for the first time on May 29, 2014.

VANIA PRISCILA Elizabeth Patricia Correa López and Edgar Gomero Zuloaga, Consorcio Terminales, are delighted about their little girl, born on July 21, 2014.

JOEL ALEXANDER This little fellow was born to Narda Román Anchante and Joel Ríos Pozu, Consorcio Terminales, on October 10, 2014.

NARELLE A sweet addition to the family for Lim Sock Hoon, Oiltanking Singapore, and Chris Lai, on November 17, 2014.

THIAGO December 27, 2014, was a joyful day for Liliana Huarcaya Guerra, Consorcio Terminales, and Juan Pablo Huaranca Condori.

EDGAR RAFAEL Jackelin Fiorella del Río and Rene Edgar Pacho Cruz, Consorcio Terminales, laid proud eyes on their son for the first time on February 20, 2104.

GuSTAVO This cute little fellow was born to Caroline Becker and Bruno Silva, Oiltanking Terminais, on August 15, 2014.

ALAI bEATRIZ A bundle of joy was born to Beatriz Plasencia Pérez and Victor Quispe Palomino, Consorcio Terminales, on November 15, 2014.

KyNDALL RION Angie Moore, Oiltanking Port Neches, and James Dean have been proud parents since May 6, 2014.

KEyRA bRuNELLAA precious little girl for Sheyla Lilibeth Merino Alemán and Edwin Joel Sunción Alemán, Consorcio Terminales, born on August 13, 2014.

AuDREy bRuNELLA Rosa Myriam Álvarez Cáceres and Juan Carlos Pastor Ghersi, Consorcio Terminales, had a sweet baby girl on July 24, 2014.

MARIN XuE HONG bO, Oiltanking Daya Bay, AND TIAN XING LONG promised each other eternal love on July 12, 2014.

If you’re not sure about when to pop THE question to your chosen partner, the findings of researchers at the

University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, may be able to help. They created a formula* that predicts the best time to propose and claim that it has a success rate of

almost 40 percent. In any case these 10 Oiltanking colleagues have already picked their wedding day – we may wonder who did the asking, but that will remain their sweet secret!

* The marriage formula� Decide at what age you want to get married at the latest. This age is ‘n’.� Choose the earliest age at which you will start to think of a potential spouse. This age is ‘p’.� Subtract ‘p’ from ‘n’, then multiply the result by 0.368.� Add your minimum age (p) and you’ll get your optimal proposal age.

Formula for the Perfect Marriage

Proposal

LuCIANA MOTTA, Oiltanking Terminais, AND bERNARDO GIuRIZATTO

made a radiant bridal couple on March 15, 2014.


I D O ’ S I D O ’ S

WEI SHIMENG AND CHEN ZHAOWEN, Oiltanking Nanjing, took the right turn on November 21, 2014.

NEHA AND KAPIL K. KHARANGATE, Oiltanking Singapore, tied the knot on December 4, 2014.

GLORIA ESTHER CARbAJAL ROJAS AND JuAN ANTONIO ESPINOZA RObLES,

Consorcio Terminales, became husband and wife on November 29, 2014.

JACKIE CHENG, Oiltanking Nanjing, became a caring husband for CHENG

yANG, married on May 20, 2014.

Everything came up roses for ZALINDA bINTE SALLEH AND SuFIAN bIN ZAKARIA, Oiltanking Singapore, on June 15, 2014.

A toast to ELISA LOPEZ CASSARA AND LuCAS buEDO, Oiltanking Ebytem, who

said “I do” on September 18, 2014.

LINDA yAN, Oiltanking Nanjing, AND WANG HONGyONG, stepped into the realm of matrimony on October 2, 2014.

STEPHANIE I. FLORES GARCíA, Consorcio Terminales, AND RObERTO SEMINARIO were pronounced husband and wife on December 20, 2014.

Lightning is an often underestimated and unpredictable weather risk with a very high potential destructive power. The average lightning strike has an electrical current of approx. 30,000 amperes at a temperature of 8,000 to 30,000°C and moves at about 100,000 km a second (one-third the speed of light). Satellite images show that there are more than three million lightning flashes a day worldwide – that’s 35 flashes per second. The need to earth tall buildings for good lightning conduction was first recognized by Sir William Harris in 1823.

The general objective of earthing is to avoid potential differences (voltage) within a system. If all conductive parts are electrically connected to each other there can be no voltage difference between these components (potential equalization). In practice, however, there are always slight voltage differences, as each electrically conductive connection also has an electrical resistance. The goal is to minimize this resistance.

Buildings on tank terminals, pipelines and loading facilities also need to be protected from the possible effects of a lightning strike. This is achieved by earthing all buildings and installations via an electrically conductive connection to the ground, which conducts the lightning current into the ground in a controlled manner in the event of a lightning strike. If, for example, a tank is struck, the lightning current flows down the tank shell and into the ground via the earthing. Without this direct earthing, the current would seek other ways to reach the ground, in the process destroying electrical or mechanical components due to the

high intensity of the current.

The current always takes the path of least resistance. So in

lightning protection, the earthing specifies the paths that the lightning

current should ideally take. Therefore, on tall buildings lightning rods are

constructed that directly conduct the lightning current into the ground via separated

earthing cables on the outside of the building, so that the lightning does not seek a way through

the building.

Earthing is not only important for protection

against lightning, but serves among other things

to protect people and electrical systems, and to

prevent electrostatic discharge (spark formation and associated

risk of explosion) and interference signals (functional earthing).

Some people may have already learned the need for earthing the hard way. For

example, anyone who has taken off a polyester sweater and became electrostatically

charged as a result may have received a slight electric shock if they subsequently touched a

metallic conductor.

L AT I N A M E R I C A

Bystanders could observe the benefit of this attack-formation technique: Thanks to the water curtain protecting the firefighters against smoke and flames and their coordinated movements, they could advance against the fire safely. It was also interesting to witness the persistence of fire and how flames on the tank wall that had already been extinguished could resurface as soon as they found air bags.The exercise also included familiarizing participants with the use and wearing of protective clothing. The time it takes to take it on and off must be taken into account since this kind of safety clothing forms a physical thermal barrier to the body. Trainees had to change fire gear as well, in order to understand how different temperatures are generated in the presence of fire originating in an enclosed location.

A well-deserved lunch break offered a good opportunity for discussions and further explanations on how to improve one’s performance during firefighting. Looking back, MatíasCortalezzi is quite happy with the outcome. “Even though the result of the exercise was excellent, I believe the key to success is to regularly train our team in using the various techniques and equipment."

Although Oiltanking takes all kinds of measures to ensure the highest safety standards at all times during operations, the products it stores are inherently dangerous. The Oiltanking HSSE Manual therefore requires that colleagues receive job-related trainings and tutorials to keep abreast of the latest information and methods and to know the right procedure in case of an emergency. The “scenario-specific emergency response plan” is a guideline that specifies exactly what needs to be done in such a case (e.g. a tank fire). On November 21, 2014, the colleagues in various departments at the Puerto Rosales terminal had the opportunity to put their theoretical knowledge into action.

The Navy facilities at “Puerto Belgrano” provided the right location for the exercise: to extinguish a fire in a confined tank containing hydrocarbons. Matías Cortalezzi, HSSE Coordinator, and José Zanetti, HSSE Supervisor, led the drill. The latter also acted as on-scene commander and instructor, performing the drill repeatedly with different groups. Participants were grouped into two teams of six people who carry the fire hoses on their shoulders. To advance against the fire they had to walk in a coordinated way, and initially set the nozzle to “fog” mode to protect themselves. Once they reduced the intensity of the fire, the mode was changed to “water jet” to douse the tank surface and finally extinguish the fire.

The development of a “Fire Protection Standard” is just one of the many measures stipulated in the Oiltanking HSSE (Health, Safety, Security, and Environment) manual. Colleagues at the terminal in

Puerto Rosales, Argentina, put the local emergency response plan into action during a recent firefighting drill.

battling the Elements:

L E X I C O N

A FIERCE FIRE The simulator

tank was dosed with different kinds of

hydrocarbons which combust into flames when gasoline is

used as an accelerator

A Firefighting Drill Earthing


Crude Oil Person to show scale Concrete

Access Point Next TankRoad

Concrete Roof is covered with gravel

Fence

Embankmentwill berevegetated

110 m

Ground level

The Port of Saldanha bay is approximately 140 km north of Cape Town. It is an excellent location for a crude-oil hub as it is close to strategic tanker routes connecting key oil-producing regions with major oil-consuming markets. It is ideally situated for the blending of West African and South African crude oils. Together with its joint venture partner MOGS Oiltanking Grindrod Calulo Holdings (OTGC) will soon help enhance the Port’s potential to establish itself as a global crude transshipment hub. Together they plan to develop, construct and operate a two-million cbm crude-oil storage facility. It will reportedly be Africa’s

largest specialist crude oil blending terminal. The entire project is expected to be completed in early 2017.

For starters, a detailed evaluation was carried out into what type of large-scale crude-oil storage facility would be suitable for the proposed facility. The options were above-ground tanks (floating-roof steel tanks or fixed-roof tanks with nitrogen blanketing), below-ground or in-ground concrete tanks. In the case of the Saldanha facility, there were many convincing reasons to favor the latter.

What tipped the scalesFirst, the investment: Compared with the conventional above-ground steel version, in-ground tanks promised savings of 47 percent (excluding costs associated with pipelines, pumps and firefighting systems). Second, the operating costs (e. g. lower maintenance), required land area, and risks are substantially lower. Another reason to opt for in-ground concrete tank technology was that it permits the construction of much larger tanks compared to conventional steel tanks. This allows the new tanks to be sized to suit the requirements of customers and their tanker sizes, without the need for multiple tanks. In-ground concrete tanks also utilize land very efficiently due to their design and the reduced separation distances required. With the double containment lining system, it provides a low pollution risk solution. The facility will occupy approximately

52 ha and will be situated next to a similar, but much larger tank terminal that has been operating successfully since 1980.

S O U T H A F R I C A

Oiltanking Grindrod Calulo Holdings (OTGC) and MOGS Oil & Gas Services (MOGS) have entered into a joint venture, Oiltanking MOGS Saldanha (OTMS), to conduct a feasibility study to develop, construct and operate a more than 2 million cbm crude oil blending and storage facility near the port of Saldanha Bay, South Africa.



Opting for

S O U T H A F R I C A

“RECyCLING” Excavated material removed to make room for the in-ground tanks will partially be used as filler around the top of the tanks

DEEP END The computer generated image shows

the concrete structure of a partially constructed

in-ground tank.

THIS AREA of land offers great opportunities for

the progress of OTGC

THE PORT of Saldanha bay is South Africa's

largest natural anchorage and deepest port

Concrete Tanks

Take a Deep

breath…

CONNECTIONS 41

L E I S U R E & E N T E RTA I N M E N TL E I S U R E & E N T E RTA I N M E N T

CONNECTIONS40

Ready for TakeoffHigh up in the sky, the air tends to become thinner and above a certain height one starts feeling short of breath. Most passengers can tolerate altitudes of 2,400 m without ill effects. However, as of July 1, 2014, passengers taking off from Venezuela’s biggest airport, Maiquetía Simón Bolívar in Caracas, may find themselves gasping for air for a different reason. In addition to other

“common” surcharges like departure tax, every passenger has to cough up 127 bolívar (approx. 16 Euros) for the air they breathe. This is to cover the cost of the recently installed new air-conditioning system, which uses ozone to purify the air inside the airport building. This technology not only protects the health of travelers, but also eliminates bacterial growth and deodorizes, as the Venezuelan Ministry of Water and Air Transport (Ministerio del Poder Popular para Transporte Acuático y Aéreo) is happy to point out. Meanwhile, the romantic flight with Flamingo Air from Cincinnati’s municipal Lunken airport in Ohio, USA will hopefully leave you breathless with anticipation. A one-hour flight in a private curtained aircraft, it includes chocolates, champagne, and, a very discreet pilot.

A TAX ON bREATHING Many people have aired their grievances about a newly introduced surcharge on fresh air at the airport in Caracas

WHAT’S ON THE MENu? One Inch Dreams® dishes up new dining experiences using slacklines

When did you last find yourself gasping for air: When you tried running up the three flights of stairs instead of taking the elevator? When you received your latest electricity bill? When you entered the poorly ventilated subway? You can’t remember? In any case, we hope the following information will come as a breath of fresh air.

Are you tired of cozy Italian trattorias, fancy sushi bars and the like and ready to try something new? Your taste buds are sure to levitate with delight as you dine at a height of 40 to 50 m – an experience made possible by Dinner in the Sky®, e. g. A team of professionals caters to a group of no more than 22 guests who are seated at a modular, mobile table on a platform (total weight around 7 t). The platform is hoisted up with 16 steel ropes using a 120-ton crane. Breakfast, lunch, tea … the sky’s the limit for your orders.

Hungry for more? Then may we suggest slacklining, an even more adventurous treat? Slacklining is the art and practice of balancing on a thin strip of webbing tensioned between at least two anchor points, typically 4.6 to 10 m long and not too high up from the ground. One Inch Dreams® is a group of slackline enthusiasts that produces slackline equipment but also organizes all sorts of breathtaking events. Like the dinner they dished up at dizzying heights on a massif at Samerberg, Germany. Here the first difficulty consisted of setting up not two but four slacklines in such a way that they formed a square. Then the table had to be placed on a space anchor. Eventually the couple started cooking their dinner – definitely a wobbly endeavor balancing on a strip of nylon webbing exactly 2.54 cm (1 inch) wide. Doubtless the dinner tasted as good as the underlying idea was spectacular – not to mention the view!

Delicious Dining atDizzying Heights

Pict

ure:

© d

inne

rint

hesk

y.co

m

Pictures: © One Inch Dreams

(HIGH) TEA? As you like it – either in the restaurant inside the highest

ball of the Atomium or just in mid-air on a platform organized by Dinner in

the Sky® in brussels, belgium

The Greek philosopher and poet Empedocles (c. 492 – c. 432 B. C.) is credited with the four-elements theory of matter (earth, air,

fire, and water), one of the earliest theories of particle physics. Shortly thereafter and based on his doctrine, the

Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 460 – c. 377 B. C.) postulated the theory that health depends on the

balance of four distinctive bodily fluids: Excess or deficiency of any of these four fluids, known as humors, directly influence a person’s health and temperament. In his theory, black bile corresponds to earth, yellow bile to fire, phlegm to water, and blood to air. Different temperaments are attributed accordingly: melancholic, choleric, phlegmatic and sanguine.

Common practices to restore balance among these elements (Eucrasia) included bleeding patients or

applying hot cups to their bodies. Once adopted by the Greek physicians, the humoral theory persisted until the

advent of modern medical research in the 19th century. One interesting vestige still found in the English language is the

expression that someone is in “good humor” or “bad humor”.


CONNECTIONS42

Castles in the Sky?

Eucrasia or ‘Perfect balance’

The metaphor “building castles in the sky” means that upon closer inspection an idea or a plan is unrealistic and unlikely to come true. And yet – it might pay to remember what Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862), an American author, poet, philosopher and historian, once said: "If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."

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CONNECTIONS 43

91 years ago, two pilots first circumnavigated the earth in an airplane. On September 28, 1924, after more than 40,000 km, various bad weather fronts, and countless repairs, Lowell H. Smith and Erik H. Nelson landed wingtip to wingtip in Seattle, Washington, USA, where they had begun their journey 175 days earlier. Today, world travel can be accomplished in a fraction of the time of those flights in 1924. Aviation has made the world smaller, but has also become a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions: According to the European Commission, a person flying from London to New York and back generates

approximately the same volume of emissions as the average person in the EU does by heating their home

for a whole year. The ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization projects that by 2050,

emissions from international aviation could grow by another 300 to 700 percent.

Due to the worldwide presence and international nature of Oiltanking’s

businesses, its employees often have to travel by air. The

individual trips

they made in 2013 add up to 673 circumnavigations of the earth. This caused 9,128 t of CO2 emissions as calculated by Atmosfair gGmbH based on data made available by the Marquard & Bahls HSSE & Corporate Communication Department. Atmosfair’s comprehensive method takes into account the effect of different air pollutants at high altitudes, as well as the aircraft, engine types, and booking class. Carbon emission-related figures – including those pertaining to air travel – are published in Marquard & Bahls’ annual Sustainability Report.

To reduce its air travel-related carbon footprint, Oiltanking keeps flight bookings to a minimum and, where they are inevitable, strives to choose the shortest but safest possible route. One of the ways Oiltanking minimizes air travel is by promoting an increased use of video-conferencing systems within the company. The ultimate goal – against the backdrop of the company’s growth – is to reduce all types of emissions as much as possible.

NuMbER


673CIRCuMNAVIGATIONS

OF THE EARTH

673



brazil From November 8 until 11, 2014, Rio de Janeiro was the place to be for players in Latin America’s petrochemical and chemical business if they did not want to miss the industry’s most important meeting in the region. Named after its organizer, the Latin American Petrochemical and Chemical Association (Asociación Química y Petroquímica Latinoamericana), the APLA conference took place for the 34th time and attracted 288 companies. Among them was Oiltanking, represented by colleagues from the Latin American subsidiaries in Argentina, Brazil and Colombia. High-profile speakers and interesting lectures about topics like “Sustainability in the Chemical Industry,” “The Petrochemical Industry in Latin America: Present and Future,” “Mexico’s Energy Market Reform” and "Shale Oil & Gas Developments in the Region", made for a very informative and comprehensive conference. The opportunity to network with the industry’s petrochemical producers, buyers and service providers completed the experience and made it a success for Oiltanking. The visitors’ feedback was very positive, including on the decoration! The colorful panels with the “team spirit” motifs taken from the latest Marquard & Bahls Annual Report even served as inspiration to other exhibitors. Hope to see you in Mexico at the next APLA conference (November 7 - 10, 2015)!

Europe Goats, horses, chickens, geese ... a lot of animals live on the Kibaho children's farm in the Kirchdorf section of Hamburg, Germany. And just as many children come to have fun here every day, exploring nature and animals on their own initiative, as well as feeding, looking after and of course petting the animals. Anyone who wishes to stay longer than a day can even spend the night. Kibaho Kinderbauernhof Kirchdorf e.V. relies on financial support from third parties to be able to host groups, offer age-specific concepts, and of course to feed the animals. At the end of 2014, Oiltanking Hamburg sponsored Kibaho for the first time by making a donation towards a children's bouncy castle. This is not only great fun for the kids, but also provides additional income that will benefit the association in the future.

Europe In allocating its donations in 2014, Oiltanking Hamburg once again considered the nonprofit Wilhelmsburger Hospital Groß-Sand, which is sponsored by the Catholic parish of St. Bonifatius. The vehicle fleet urgently needed to be expanded to be able to service various schools in Wilhelmsburg, Harburg and Neugraben, as well as the St. Franziskus Kindergarten: the hospital distributes around 1,100 meals every day. By financially supporting the purchase of a new Fiat Doblo, Oiltanking helps to ensure that the children get healthy and delicious, freshly prepared meals every day.

EyE-CATCHER The Oiltanking meeting room was decorated with panels displaying some of the expressive “team spirit” motifs from the latest Marquard & bahls Annual Report

SNOW JAM Once again a perfect venue to demonstrate sporting team spirit among colleagues

NutshellIn a

Snow Jam Right on cue for this year’s Snow Jam, snow actually fell, offering perfect conditions for a group of twenty colleagues from various companies of Marquard & Bahls. On January 28, 2015, following the theme of the 2013 Annual Report “Team Spirit & Sports” they took to the mountains for four days of skiing in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl in Austria. The name of the hotel “Sporthotel Olymp” was no coincidence! Our international colleagues had a lot of fun, plenty of opportunity to chat with each other, and many chances to enjoy Austria’s alpine cuisine. More importantly – no one was hurt!


R E A D E R ' S C O R N E R

... and Action!Try to solve our riddle and don't miss out on the chance to win! Please send your entries to: [email protected], or contact us by post: Oiltanking GmbH, connections Team, Admiralitaetstrasse 55, 20459 Hamburg, Germany, or by fax: +49 40 370 99-499.


For years it has been second nature for the Oiltanking terminal in Joliet, Illinois, USA, to make donations to United Way – a nonprofit organization that pools its fundraising efforts and focuses its work on the three building blocks for a good life: Education, income, and health. But how can Oiltanking Joliet be sure its charitable donations are well spent? On October 28, 2014, a representative from United Way came to visit the Joliet terminal to provide an overview of where and how Oiltanking’s money was used in the previous year. In all, the Oiltanking colleagues wholeheartedly supported 45 local charitable organizations via United Way. United Way also provides the option of donating to a specific, self-chosen charity. In the past, around Christmastime Oiltanking would ask local schools to suggest a particular family to donate to. Three years ago, Oiltanking employee Debbie Jackson suggested the Kuzma Care Cottage in Wilmington (approx. 27 km from Joliet). Among other charitable activities, this organization

distributes gifts to a number of schools. The idea of helping several children s i m u l t a n e o u s l y prompted Oiltanking to choose Kuzma Care Cottage again this year. On November 6, 2014 , the company initiated a campaign that involved employees purchasing gifts and clothing for local schoolchildren.The United Way representative also presented the upcoming year’s campaign goals to Oiltanking. And, Oiltanking Joliet has already come up with a support scheme as well: This year its involvement for the community will even go a step further. Rather than just donating money, the colleagues plan to additionally donate their time by volunteering at one of the United Way charities. A united effort indeed!

Although Christmas has long passed by now, we have to dredge up a Christmas story as it fits perfectly with the topic of this issue. Many dream of a White Christmas, but the colleagues in Texas City, USA, wouldn’t have dared dream of actually experiencing one. And yet, snow fell overnight on Christmas Eve 2004 resulting in a White Christmas – something completely foreign to the region. Indeed it was a rare and record-breaking event across south and southeast Texas – the most significant snowfall the Texas Gulf Coast and Deep South of Texas had experienced since February 1895. The city of Houston,

approximately 63 km from Texas City, recorded the first White Christmas in its history. This virtually unprecedented natural event was fuelled by an arctic front that had pushed across southeastern Texas, dropping temperatures below freezing point while another cold front brought snow.Kids at home enjoyed the rare opportunity of snowball fights, but colleagues at the terminal had to fight against the elements and fix the potable water lines, which were lost due to the cold. Fresh water had to be brought in to keep the safety showers and eye baths functional. As to all other inconveniences at the terminal related to the freak

weather, the colleagues remained “cool,” calm and collected. And, during lunch breaks, some new colleagues joined the teams: snow angels and snowmen.

united on the Way to Advancing the Common Good

Dream Come True

A VISION IN WHITE Colleagues at the Oiltanking terminal in Texas City experienced around 10 cm of snow in December 2004

ADVANCING THE COMMON GOOD bill Hayes, one of the colleagues being on a helping mission

C O N G R A T u L A T I O N S

N E W q u I Z

Quiz Solution

by the way …

What on Earth?

Thanks to your good advice, the merchant was able to send the shipment smoothly on its way by using seven cartons with eight big boxes and four cartons with ten small boxes. Congratulations to Dante Balleggi and Jesús Medrano, Oiltanking Andina Services, Jaime Gutierrez, Oiltanking

Perú, Konstantin von Hobe, Skytanking, Zheng Yang, Oiltanking Nanjing, Bas Ooijen, Oiltanking Stolthaven Antwerp, Nicole Strauch, Total Deutschland GmbH, Tim Venghaus, Oiltanking GmbH, who will soon receive the Oiltanking Wellness Set – neatly boxed, of course!

Have you ever wondered why the weather often seems to get bad right at the weekend and brighter on Mondays, just when most people have to go back to work? Statistical averages do indeed indicate a slightly higher cloudiness during weekends, but why? Due to industrial activity, the fine dust pollution in the air increases over the course of the week, reaching its peak on Fridays. This fine dust pollution contributes to cloud formation, and so tends to result in more clouds. Friday evening through Monday, the fine dust pollution gradually decreases and is then at its lowest again on Monday morning.

Do you know why most hot-air balloon pilots carry a toilet roll with them? No, it’s not what most people think of first! In

fact, if they want to know the direction of the air current at low

altitudes, they just drop a leaf of toilet paper overboard and look to see what direction it flies in.

The best way to solve our new quiz is to think laterally. If you feel your brain buckling under the effort, maybe some fresh air will help, or one of the other three elements humors ... We look forward to receiving your solutions by May 28, 2015. An Oiltanking tablet cover awaits the happy winners. Good luck!

1. Chimneys’ end and smoke’s beginning?2. What swims along with you but doesn’t get wet? 3. Who makes a living from “going up in smoke”?4. What is "empty" even when it is filled all the way? 5. What makes no sound when it falls onto the ground?6. Colorless yet visible, it weighs nothing but every object that has it weighs less ...7. What is clean before washing and dirty afterwards?

?? ?

L AS T B U T N OT L E AS T

Swimming Pool (1999); 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan, 2004, © Leandro Erlich Studio

Ever tried to breathe underwater without getting wet? You could if you visited the ‘Swimming Pool’ art installation by Leandro Erlich, part of the permanent collection at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan. The exhibit consists of a life-size swimming pool divided into two parts: the upper, exterior one, which creates a very convincing illusion of seeing people under water in the swimming pool. It is achieved with an acrylic lid over the pool that is filled with about 10 cm of water. This produces an interesting trompe l’oeil effect, making it look as if people who enter the second, lower part of the installation through a side door are submerged in the pool; those looking from above think they are seeing an underwater reality. Leandro Erlich’s spectacular, ingenious installation produces astonishment and disorientation, making it very popular with the museum’s visitors. The Argentine artist (*1973, Buenos Aires) has exhibited extensively and is now one of the world’s most internationally renowned Latin American artists.

A blue Illusion

Elements - Oiltanking

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