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Matthew Cox, HOYER UK’s senior fleet engineer, beside one of the new Scania vehicles which currently make up 10% of the company’s fleet
HOYER, which recently announced an increase in its investment budget from EUR 90 million in 2018 to a record level of EUR 173 million for 2019, will expand its UK Petrolog fleet with the delivery of 26 new Scania P 450 vehicles in early 2019.
The order includes eight Hydrapak and 16 Non-Hydrapak trucks with drivers having the benefit of new features including Advanced Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Warning as standard. As part of HOYER’s growth strategy, further vehicles will be tendered early next year.
“We are pleased to announce the arrival of new additions to our Scania fleet,” Allan Davison, operations director of HOYER Petrolog in the UK.
“Scania has always offered an exceptionally reliable vehicle whilst also bringing the environmental benefits of returning excellent fuel economy and, importantly, this vehicle is always a popular choice with our driver workforce.”
The appointments of Gary Oliver and Roger Parr highlight Suttons Tankers’ UK strategy to continually improve the customer experience
Suttons Tankers has strengthened its team with two new appointments at board level. Gary Oliver joins as operations director west, replacing Roger Parr who has now been appointed as the company’s new commercial director.
Roger’s appointment recognises his successful leadership in a series of continuous improvement projects for leading customers of Suttons Tankers.
Gary joins the company from DX Network Services where he has worked as a regional director and operations director since 2010.
Working with Steve Hassall, operations director east, Gary will be responsible for leading the business strategy, objectives and performance at Suttons’ Widnes, Eastham and Willenhall depots.
Gary brings significant experience from the freight and deliveries sector to his new role with Suttons, having also held senior management roles with Target Express and City Link.
“I’m pleased to welcome Gary to the business and look forward to benefiting from his vast experience in senior roles, enhancing customer relations,” said Michael Cundy, managing director of Suttons Tankers.
“And congratulations to Roger who is making a natural progression having been an integral part of our commercial leadership team since joining in 2015.
“These two appointments highlight our UK strategy to continually improve the customer experience and add value at all points in the delivery chain.
“We look forward to reaping the rewards of this fresh structure and approach within our tanker division.”
Suttons Tankers operates in the UK with a fleet of more than 500 vehicles focused on the chemicals, gas and fuel sectors. suttonsgroup.com
With EU leaders recently approving the agreement on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union and future relations, the Tank Storage Association (TSA) has cautiously welcomed this positive progress, but recognises that the agreement still needs to go through the UK Parliamentary process before it is approved.
It is essential for TSA members to ensure access to as frictionless a border with the EU and the Rest of World (RoW) as possible following 29th March 2019. We do not believe this is possible without a deal in place.
If the UK Parliament approves the deal on the 12th December, there will be a significant amount of work required during the transition period to finalise the details of our trading relationship. We have highlighted several areas with UK Government where detailed discussion and analysis is required, these include:
James Stairmand (r), founder and CEO of OnlineFuels, and Marc Noy, managing director of OnlineFuels Deutschland
Last week it was announced that OnlineFuels, a leading B2B online fuel sales platform in the UK, and Shell Deutschland Oil GmbH had entered into a joint venture in Germany, creating OLF Deutschland GmbH.
On launching a fuel sales platform for the commercial B2B market in Germany, OnlineFuels Deutschland intends to cooperate with other oil and energy companies in Germany.
“Germany is the largest fuel market in Europe – an ideal place for us to expand our online offerings,” explained James Stairmand, founder and CEO of OnlineFuels.
Jörg Debus, Shell Commercial Fuels Manager Europa/Africa, said: “With an online platform we want to give our B2B customers the opportunity to order products around the clock to mitigate potential exposures. In addition, the platform aims to make the oil purchasing process as simple and efficient as possible for our clients.”
The go-live is planned for the first half of 2019. The company’s headquarters will be in Hamburg.www.onlinefuels.comwww.onlinefuels.dewww.shell.de
Last year Certas Energy opened a Shell GTL Fuel refuelling station at the Port of Liverpool to provide HGV drivers with a lower emission fuel to help fleet operators to assist in the improvement of local air quality
Certas Energy has become an official partner of the Northern Powerhouse, joining the partnership to support improvements in fuel efficiency, transportation and air quality in the North.
“We are extremely proud to be an official partner of the Northern Powerhouse, demonstrating our commitment to providing innovative alternatives to traditional fuel supply and management solutions that support improvements in efficiency and productivity,” said Brian Worrall, director of corporate affairs.
“Already recognised as a top five business in the 2017 North West Top 200 list, we have continued to invest in the region both in terms of infrastructure and our workforce and we look forward to working with industry, government and local communities to lead the way in smarter, cleaner energy choices to support sustainable growth across the North of England and Wales.”
Among the many racing activities enjoyed by customers and terminal operators was the chance to do 10 laps in a single seater racing car
Mabanaft recently hosted a race day at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Dunfermline, Fife, where guests were treated to a high-octane motor sport event at Scotland’s National Motorsport Centre.
Comprising of track racing, rally driving and go-karting, the driving experience included an initial spin in a Civic Type R with race safety training, followed by 10 laps in a single seater racing car. After lunch participants were back behind the wheel ready for 6 laps in a rally car before taking part in a 30 lap go kart competition.
“It was a great day,” said commercial director Martin Cook.
“Our guests – customers and terminal operators – thoroughly enjoyed the racing. For us, it was an opportunity to show our appreciation of their ongoing support, and spend time discussing business in an informal environment. We like to take a collaborative approach to dealing with the challenges that face the industry and enjoyed exploring, amongst other topics, the imminent changes to legislation surrounding bio-fuels and greenhouse gas emissions affecting the whole of the UK.”
Amy Johnston of Certas who attended the event said:
“It was really good, different from your typical day out, a lot of fun and not too formal – despite the typical Scottish weather, it didn’t rain!
“It was great to catch up with the team from Mabanaft; they are a fantastic company to work with, always ready go the extra mile. If we ever need information or to get a better understanding about anything, they are always our first port of call.”
The event was rounded off with a presentation ceremony and awards for speed and technique. Scott Thomson was awarded best driving technique while Emma Shorter came first for fastest Go Karting lap. Inevitably, one driver did get called out for ignoring red flags in the rally event. Naming no names, but everyone who attended the event knows exactly who we are referring to!www.mabalive.co.uk
With ‘a key role to play in delivering a cleaner, safer environment for all’, David Wells, chief executive of the Freight Transport Association (FTA), set out his framework for the future of logistics which includes ‘the achievable aim of zero atmospheric emissions and near zero deaths and injuries from freight movements by 2050’.
David was speaking earlier this month at the inaugural Future Logistics Conference & Expo, which ‘brought together the brightest minds in the logistics sector to debate the factors that will shape the industry in the coming years’. On show at the event were the very latest emerging technologies in the freight industry with more than 20 leading speakers – including experts from the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and the Transport Research Laboratory.
“From self-driving vehicles to artificial intelligence, the world around us is changing fast and the logistics sector is embracing new technologies and solutions quickly,” added David.
“As the only event of its kind, the Future Logistics Conference & Expo armed companies with the toolkit required to embrace our brave new world; empowering them to reap the opportunities on offer but also protect against the challenges ahead, including Brexit and worsening skills shortages.
“FTA has already established a framework to propel the logistics sector into a bright and innovative future, defined by technological progress, safety, compliance and employee welfare. With the support of government, businesses and the wider logistics community, we aim to create an industry that has the systems in place to constantly adapt to meet the ever-evolving needs of consumers; future tools are utilised to unlock every possible inch of efficiency; talented and skilled workers are attracted to join the sector; and we achieve zero atmospheric emissions and near zero deaths and injuries from freight movements. And we aim to do this all by 5050.”
The event was also supported by Multimodal 2019 and The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
www.fta.co.uk
As part of the aviation-only collaboration, Fuel Proof will supply bunded tanks, with capacities from 330 litres up to 85,000 litres, to a number of airports and air fields across the UK
Heysham-based fuel storage equipment manufacturer, Fuel Proof, has entered into a new partnership with Gulf Aviation. The new collaboration will see the two international brands work together on the storage and distribution of Jet A1 and Avgas 100LL fuels for a range of Gulf Aviation customers across the UK, which includes Birmingham Airport and Cardiff Airport.
As part of the aviation-only collaboration, Fuel Proof will supply a range of bunded tanks with capacities from 330 litres all the way up to 85,000 litres, to a number of airports and air fields across the UK.
With an inner tank constructed from stainless steel, the storage tanks offer security and durability with systems that are designed to deliver better security, service life, ease of use, reliability and value for money for aviation customers.
The storage options will be available through leases, lease purchases or direct sales and can be adapted to meet individual budgets and requirements.
“We’re delighted to be collaborating with Fuel Proof to enhance the storage capabilities we can offer our aviation fuel customers,” said commercial manager, David Dykes.
“We know from listening to our customers that they already trust the Fuel Proof brand and welcome the quality of their products and the safety they offer. It was one of the main reasons we chose to speak with them about a partnership, and we also know they share the same values as us in terms of providing excellent service and exceptional value.”
Roger Pilkington, who oversees the aviation department at Fuel Proof, added:
“We are very excited about the opportunity this offers us as a business – Gulf Aviation is a huge company and an internationally-recognised brand.
“We know our products offer the highest in quality, so we are confident in our ability to accommodate all fuel requests – from small airfields to regional airports. We’re looking forward to growing and adapting with Gulf Aviation over the course of our partnership.”www.gulfaviation.co.uk
Paying their respects – Gleaner Oils in Elgin and Marsh Fuels in Newbury and as Fuel Oil News editor Jane Raphael was taking this poignant WW1 scene in the Cheshire village of Lower Peover, an NWF Fuels tanker was passing by
As the centenary of Armistice Day approached, Fuel Oil News was pleased to see photographs of tankers with large red poppies.
Knowing that the origins of many early fuel distribution businesses came about post war, their tributes to the fallen are very apt.
At Gleaner Oils, Emma Golledge said:
“Whilst there is no direct link between the founders and the Armed Forces, our head office in Elgin is situated next to an RAF base and an Army base, so many of our staff and customers in the area have very strong links to the military.”
Dave Marsh at Marsh Fuels in Berkshire said:
“As individuals and as a company we like to show our respect for those who gave their lives in the service of the Armed Forces and for those who serve today.”If your company has a photograph to share, please send to jane@andpublishing.co.uk.
Celebrating on the panoramic deck of the National Theatre in London are Eleven Recruitment director, Sarah Stott with Nick Kendall (l) and Mark Nolan, Nolan Oils
On Thursday 8th November fuel distributors, recruitment clients and candidates gathered at the National Theatre in London to not only celebrate Oil Recruitment’s 20th birthday, but also to launch Oil Recruitment’s rebrand to Eleven Recruitment.
Oil Recruitment has been well-known in the downstream fuel distribution industry for the past 20 years.
Speaking to Fuel Oil News for the October 2018 issue, managing director Nick Smith explained the reasons behind the new name and the new look. See here.
“In addition to its strong oil focus, Oil Recruitment has actually covered non-oil sectors for most of those 20 years. Indeed, we’ve been finding roles for people in gas & power and speciality chemicals for 19 years.
“Eleven Recruitment’s focus is now on deepening the specialism within each of its existing niche sectors through a widening knowledge and greater research,” added Nick.
Within the next five years, Eleven Recruitment aims to have earned a position as first choice recruitment partner for the fuel distribution sector, and to have doubled the size of its team in each sector.www.elevenrecruitment.com
“The FPS strongly believes that a liquid fuel – a greener version of existing heating oil – can and should play a big part in how the future needs of off-grid homeowners are met,” says Guy Pulham, FPS CEO
As an alternative to heating oil, the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) has reiterated its ongoing commitment to a carbon neutral liquid fuel or e-fuel.
Giving evidence to an inquiry on technologies to meet Clean Growth emission reduction targets last month, the FPS called on government to invest in and encourage the development of e-fuels.
“The FPS strongly believes that a liquid fuel – a greener version of existing heating oil – can and should play a big part in how the future needs of off-grid homeowners are met,” said FPS CEO Guy Pulham.
“We believe Clean Growth emission reduction targets can be met – and met in such a way that doesn’t cause rural households a huge expense or inconvenience.
“Whilst we understand the investment in electric solutions, we’re concerned that for heating rural homes switching to an electric heating system from an oil boiler and tank system is not straightforward or cheap.
“It makes sense to enjoy the benefits of a liquid fuel which would allow homeowners to cut their carbon footprint, without a big upfront charge and in a relatively easy way with just a few modifications. Plans are already in place to begin testing various bio fuels in the real world in both the UK and Europe.
“We believe that government needs to create the same drive for development in the UK as we’re seeing in Europe. The government states in its Clean Growth Strategy that the UK should lead the way in innovation, we believe funding research into e-fuels is a perfect opportunity.
“Short-term steps can also be taken to reduce emissions, including replacing old boilers with oil-fired condensing boilers, using smart meters and smart controls to maximise the energy efficiency, and installing better insulation to keep more heat in and use less fuel.
“We will continue to work in partnership with other trade associations in the UK and Europe to develop alternative, greener liquid fuel technology,” concluded Guy.www.fpsonline.co.uk
“Our Norwich team will play a core part in delivering a compelling experience for our customers, and in fuelling Watson Fuels’ continued success,” said Serena Scott, regional domestic manager who is heading up the centre
On Wednesday 14th November, Watson Fuels will officially open its new Norwich Customer Contact Centre. Joining the Watson Fuels UK management team for the ribbon cutting ceremony will be the global World Fuel Services leadership team.
Delegates attending the inaugural conference in 2017
On Tuesday 13th November Certas Energy will be holding its second Clean Air Conference, with this year’s conference taking place at Herringham Hall, Regents University, London.
Alternative fuels represent a real and immediate solution to cleaning up Britain’s air quality problem while maintaining business productivity and profitability – however, there is confusion amongst businesses around the benefits of alternative fuels and their role in reducing emissions.
The conference, which is designed to ‘clear the air on alternative fuels and explore ways businesses can help improve local air quality’ will feature many highlights including the launch of its latest industry report – The Alternative Guide to navigating the new Energy Mix: Separating Fuel Facts from Fiction’Conference agenda and speakers
The transaction provides an attractive entry into the Port of Amsterdam. Historically, the NuStar Europe business has experienced a high contract renewal rate with its customers with storage utilisation rates averaging approximately 90% in the first half of 2018
Inter Pipeline’s European storage subsidiary, Inter Terminals has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the issued share capital of NuStar Energy, L.P.’s European bulk liquid storage business, NuStar Europe for cash consideration of USD$270 million, or approximately CAD$354 million.
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018 and is subject to customary closing conditions.
“The addition of NuStar Europe is an exciting step forward for our European bulk liquid storage business,” commented Christian Bayle, Inter Pipeline’s president and chief executive officer.
“The acquisition materially increases our overall storage capacity and establishes Inter Terminals as the UK’s largest independent storage operator.
Furthermore, the transaction provides an attractive entry into the Port of Amsterdam. The Port is the world’s largest gasoline blending hub and has experienced significant storage growth over the years.”
NuStar Europe consists of seven coastal terminals totaling 9.1 million barrels of storage. One terminal is located in Amsterdam, Netherlands with the remaining facilities located in the United Kingdom (UK) near London, Runcorn, Eastham, Grangemouth, Clydebank and Belfast. The acquisition will increase Inter Terminal’s storage capacity by approximately 33% to 37 million barrels.
In the UK, the 1.9 million barrel Grays terminal is strategically located on the river Thames and serves the greater London area. Grays is responsible for handling approximately 17 million barrels of refined products per year, and provides cost effective access to London’s fuel distribution network. The 49-tank terminal has averaged approximately 100 percent utilisation over the past three years.
The smaller terminals at Belfast, Eastham, Grangemouth, Runcorn and Clydebank in the UK primarily support the distribution of petrochemicals, gasoline, diesel and sulphur to regional demand centres.
The 3.8 million barrel state-of-the-art terminal in Amsterdam plays a key role in the Port of Amsterdam with approximately 10% of the independent storage capacity. The terminal provides gasoline, gas oil and fuel oil storage, and blending services, including those required to produce IMO 2020 compliant marine fuels. The 44-tank facility has averaged approximately 100% utilisation over the past three years.
Cash flow in the business is supported by cost-of-service and fixed-fee contracts with major integrated oil companies, petrochemical companies and petroleum traders with terms typically ranging from one to five years. Additional revenue is generated through ancillary services such as product blending and throughput fees.www.interterminals.com
By January 2019, over 70% of Wincanton’s fleet will meet Euro 6 standards for exhaust emissions of NOx and other pollutants
As the government looks for ways to reduce harmful emissions, several Clean Air Zones (CAZ) have been identified and agreed by local authorities across the UK. While this is a positive step for air quality and the environment, it carries consequences for many industries – particularly logistics – which will have to anticipate the new charges when driving in these zones.
For example, some city councils have suggested daily charges of up to £12.50 for taxis and private cars to drive in designated Clean Air Zones. This increases to up to £100 per day for lorries and HGVs, a significant cost, not just for businesses but inevitably for the customer.
The five cities that have been identified for the CAZ are Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby and Southampton with London selected for an Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Companies which have invested in ‘clean’ engines will not incur charges but there could be a large proportion of businesses which are unaware of these changes or how they might affect them.
A recent survey from the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), found that only 55% of small and medium-sized businesses know that CAZs are being introduced. Companies not investing in clean engines or working with reputable partners who are, risk being hit by these costs.
At Wincanton, over 70% of our fleet will meet Euro 6 standards for exhaust emissions of NOx and other pollutants by January 2019. We are confident that with the latest technology and renewal of the fleet we will meet the requirements of the CAZ for our own benefit and that of our customers. What’s more we are the first (and only) 3PL to have committed to electric trucks for urban deliveries, with a small fleet of FUSO eCanter vehicles currently being rolled out with a major customer.
However, we realise not all providers will be in this position, whether they are a 3PL or subcontractor and this means higher operating costs. If these costs eventually get passed onto customers, businesses could soon see the negative impact of high emission engines not only on the environment but also on their bottom line.
Time is ticking for companies to take action on this issue. There is a deadline of 31st December for local authorities to publish plans on what Clean Air Zones will look like and confirm charges for different types of vehicles.
From plastic to air pollution, environmental issues have never been so high on the public agenda.www.wincanton.co.uk
Adrian Proctor (l) and Barry Newton at the Geos Group’s terminal in the Port of Blyth
Fuel Oil News recently visited the Port of Blyth to see the Geos Group’s terminal first hand. Specialists in marine gas oil supply and distribution, the group is now the largest independent marine fuel supplier in the UK
Keen to learn more about the company’s Sea Bunkering’s trading origins, and to discover what prompted the move into a physical fuel supply, editor Jane Raphael met with managing director Barry Newton and commercial director Adrian Proctor, both based at the company’s Henley-on-Thames head office.
Barry, who had previously worked with Phillips 66, joined Sea Bunkering in the city of Hull back in the 1990s with the emphasis firmly on oil trading.
“In those pre-internet days selling marine fuel literally meant driving to the port to ask if anyone needed it! Whilst our fuel supply was then sourced through a network of physical suppliers,” explained Barry.
“The biggest change to this market has been the internet which moved the industry from local to global – going into physical storage was an opportunity that we just had to take.”
The Blyth terminal – wholly-owned by the Geos Group – was opened in 2015 in a port which had previously been without any fuel provision. The project was led and managed by Liz Winship who now works alongside the terminal’s operations manager, Norman Donaldson and three operatives.
“From a strategic point of view, it is best that we control our own fuel stocks,” explained Adrian.
“Having a physical footprint gives us far better flexibility to meet customer demand and to be much more proactive on sales. Additionally, many of our customers work in environments where fuel is needed very quickly, particularly if another energy source fails.”