ITC Rubis expands core business in Antwerp via direct transloading C3 and C4 gases from vessel into rail tank cars
In January 2016 ITC Rubis conducted their first direct transloading operations of liquefied gases from vessel into block train. During the course of 2015 ITC Rubis have built a state of the art facility suitable for transloading C3 and C4 gases directly from vessel into rail tank cars or block trains. The facility is now in full operation.
Being a tank terminal, ITC Rubis have expanded their core business in deciding to offer solutions for this type of activity. Besides offering storage and transshipment of liquefied gases, ITC Rubis are now also able to transload these products. During the entire operation there is no tank involved as intermediary storage, contrary to what is the case at other tank terminals. The vessel pumps the product directly into the rail tank cars (RTCs) through a pipeline via a loading arm.
ITC Rubis is the only location in the port of Antwerp providing this type of operation. Considering the large demand for importing liquefied gases into the ARA region and the fact that only very few facilities can store, transship and/or transload them, this installation provides a much needed service for the customer.
The operation will also play a major role in shifting volume from road transportation to the more efficient and ecological rail transport mode and will contribute to the reduction of CO2 emission in the port of Antwerp.
Along with the investment in the construction of the transloading installation, ITC Rubis have also invested in the expansion of their rail infrastructure. The transloading operation involves pumping the product from the vessel via a pipeline directly into the RTCs which are connected to the gas RTC loading station. This loading station has been expanded from two loading positions to eight positions in total (i.e. four on each track). This enables ITC Rubis to unload the vessel directly into four rail tank cars simultaneously. Apart from the extension of the loading station ITC Rubis have also expanded their rail track capacity by building extra rail tracks along the length of the terminal to enable storing and shunting of the block trains in an efficient manner.
The installation will be suitable for all C3 and C4 gases. Typical C4 gases which will be handled are isobutane, butadiene and crude C4 whereas propylene will be the main C3 gas. However, other liquefied C3 and C4 gases can be handled as well.
More and more, flexibility is becoming the key issue in the tank terminal industry. Customers nowadays wish to move their product with as much flexibility as possible. Considering this market demand, it was logical for ITC Rubis to introduce the new transloading facilities. In doing so, customers without tank storage at the terminal are now able to utilize the transloading facility, thereby moving additional products, which could not be moved before due to logistic limitations.
About ITC Rubis
ITC Rubis Terminal Antwerp N.V. is a joint-venture between RUBIS, an independent international operator specializing in the downstream petroleum and chemicals sector and Mitsui, one of the most diversified and comprehensive trading, investment and service enterprises in the world. Shareholdings are through Rubis Terminal, a storage operator wholly owned by RUBIS, MITSUI & CO Europe PLC and Intercontinental Terminals Co. (ITC), a petrochemical storage terminal company based in Houston, USA (ITC is wholly-owned by Mitsui).
