Life and near-death for oilman in round - Downstream Magazine

The official magazine of the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers Winter 2010 

Life and 

near-death 

for oilman 

in round 

the world 

ocean 

race

Inside 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

14 

18 

20 

21 

22 

Mabanaft’s new rail link to Cardiff 

Nolan’s rapid rescue deal 

Bilsland Tankers – a three-generation game 

FPS EXPO 2011 latest 

New FPS Service to Industry Award 

FPS Driver of the Year 2011 

FPS Employee of the Year 2011 

Safer still at Suckling 

FPS driver training scheme moves into 

overdrive 

Sulphur-free gas oil: Are your customers ready 

for the spec change? 

FPS Update 

Life and near-death on the ocean 

FPS Transport Briefing 

Environmental regulation – new civil sanction 

powers and your firm 

Environmental regulation – discharge permits 

OPEC at 50 – challenges ahead 

Tanks, storage & monitoring 

Season’s Greetings 

from All at Downstream 

and the FPS 

COVER PICTURE 

Chrystal Petroleum General 

Manager Scott Thomson and the 

crew of the Edinburgh Clipper sail 

past the Statue of Liberty in a 

round the world marathon 

adventure. Read how Scott survived 

the raging seas on page 12. 

❅ 

❄ 

❄ 

Fuelling the Future 

We are one of the largest independent oil 

importers in the UK 

Benefit from our keen prices, give 

yourselves a competitive edge and save 

time by avoiding queues at our exclusive 

facilities at Dagenham, Essex. Alternatively 

we can deliver to your depot. 

We supply Diesel, Burning Kerosene and 

Gasoil. We are also an authorised supplier 

into the Keyfuels and 

UK Fuels bunker networks 

Please contact our sales team on: 

01932 843354 

Prax House, Horizon Business Village, 

1 Brooklands Road, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 OTJ. UK 

Tel: + (44) 1932 843354 Fax: + (44) 1932 842013 

Email: info@praxpetroleum.com 

www.praxpetroleum.com 

Downstream 

ISSN 1473-5539 

Unless otherwise acknowledged, material published 

in Downstream is copyright of the publishers. It may 

not be used or copied without the publishers’ 

permission. 

© PUBLISHED BY 

Federation of Petroleum Suppliers Ltd, 

6 Royal Court, Tatton Street, Knutsford, Cheshire 

WA16 6EN, tel +44 (0) 1565-631313, fax +44 (0) 1565-631314, 

e-mail office@fpsonline.co.uk www.fpsonline.co.uk 

NEWS AND FEATURES 

call Susan Hancock or Vanessa Cook at the FPS 

ADVERTISING 

Shirley Price at Seabury Salmon & Associates, 

Ludford, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1PP 

tel +44 (0) 1584 877442, 

e-mail shirley.price@btconnect.com 

PRODUCTION 

Seabury Salmon & Associates. 

PRINT 

Brian Edwards Print +44 (0) 7403 449871 

Downstream Winter 2010 3 www.downstreammagazine.co.uk

News 

Wild day out for 

ConocoPhillips 

CONGRATULATIONS TO the 80-plus 

ConocoPhillips staff who mounted 

a community day to help 

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s 

ongoing efforts to manage 

Brandon Marsh and Stoke Floods, a 

wildlife reserve near Coventry. 

The Marsh is also a legally 

protected Site of Special Scientific 

Interest for the importance of its 

wetland wildlife, and Conoco 

Phillips staff (plus three customers 

who are members of their dealer 

council) gave it their best on some 

heavy-duty tasks. Jobs included 

clearing troublesome Himalayan 

balsam plants to encourage otters 

and water voles, and thinning 

woodland saplings to let light in to 

low-level plants like bluebells. 

Other volunteers turned their 

hands to drainage improvements, 

fence painting, pond clearing and 

even helping to complete a mural 

at the visitor centre. The reward for 

a day of back-breaking work was a 

celebratory barbeque. 

A Wildlife Trust spokesman said: 

“Many of the teams we host tend 

to treat the day as an opportunity 

to 'take a day off'. This certainly 

did not happen with this team.” 

OHES advance 

OHES ENVIRONMENTAL, the 

consultancy that specialises in 

environmental claims 

management, contaminated land 

and ecology, has gained ISO 9001 

status for its management systems 

and 14001 for its environmental 

management systems. “This is an 

important step in support of all of 

our clients in the downstream 

sector and is recognition of all the 

hard work done by all of our 

employees, right across the UK and 

Ireland,” said Paul Rich, Operations 

Manager for OHES, which is part of 

the OAMPS insurance group. 

MORE INFORMATION 

www.ohes.co.uk 

Cardiff’s new rail supply line 

FUEL WHOLESALER MABANAFT Limited 

has modernised and re-opened the rail 

heads at HCB Cardiff Oil Storage 

terminal, enabling fuel to be rail fed 

directly from Immingham to Cardiff. 

The re-opening of the rail line facility, 

mothballed for the past nine years, 

increases Cardiff’s supply security, 

adding another line of supply to ship 

fed movements which can be hit by 

weather and tide issues. Mark Rolph, 

Managing Director of Mabanaft 

Limited, commented: “This investment 

in oil supply infrastructure reinforces 

OXFORDSHIRE FPS MEMBER Nolan Fuel 

Oils has taken the fast track to 

sponsorship. It gave its backing to Louth 

Superbike rider Peter Hickman and 

Ultimate Racing for the final two rounds 

of the British Superbike championship at 

Silverstone and Oulton Park. MD Mark 

Nolan said: “Nolan Oils are pleased to 

be title sponsor for Peter Hickman of 

Ultimate Racing and the team. It has 

been a difficult year for Hicky. We know 

he is a very capable rider but has had 

some bad luck with his bike this 

season.” Hickman responded: “I am 

really grateful to Nolan Fuel Oils. 

THE ELAFLEX GROUP has acquired a stake in Australian LPG nozzle manufacturer LG 

Equipment Pty Ltd. The company designs, manufactures and distributes the GasGuard 

LPG nozzle range for vehicle and industrial applications and is a market leader in 

some world regions. “This deal is a perfect synergy” said Philip Treloar, MD of 

L.G.Equipment. The cooperation could allow both companies to market the whole 

GasGuard and Elaflex LPG range, but according to both, existing longstanding 

distribution structures will remain unchanged for now. 

MORE INFORMATION www.elaflex.co.uk 

Mabanaft’s long term capabilities and 

commitment to supply fuel to businesses 

in the Cardiff area.” 

The modernisation took over 15 months 

and was done with Mabanaft’s business 

partners DB Schenker, HCB, SGS, ABP 

and Simon Storage. In addition to 

strengthening the infrastructure for 

supplying diesel, kerosene and gas oil in 

the Cardiff area, the new rail facility has 

generated six new jobs. 


www.mabanaft.co.uk 

Nolan’s rapid rescue deal 

Photo by Dave Yeoman 

Without them we would have struggled 

to get the money together for fuel and 

tyres for the last two rounds.” 


www.nolanoils.co.uk 

Elaflex nuzzles into LPG nozzles 


Bilsland tankers – a threegeneration 

game! 

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN Glasgow 

FPS member company James D Bilsland 

and tanker sales expert Clive Felton 

goes back a long way – three 

generations of the Bilsland family, in 

fact. 

Clive first sold a used tanker to the 

company’s founder, the late Jim Bilsland 

Senior, back in the 1970s, and he’s been 

the source of supply for transport ever 

since... In 1984, when the-then Jim 

Bilsland Junior took the helm of the 

company, Clive supplied him with 

Bilsland’s very first new tanker – a 

Leyland Freighter 1615 with a five 

compartment payload of 12,000 litres. 

It’s still in service. 

“When Jim (then Junior) bought the 

Leyland, I remember his dad asking him 

‘What do you want something that size 

for?’ because in those days it was a big 

vehicle,” says Clive. 

Fast forward 26 years to 2010. Jim 

Bilsland Junior has become Jim Bilsland 

Senior following the passing of his 

father and he manages the business 

with the new Jim Bilsland Junior (born 

in 1984!). 

Clive, now semi-retired but still working 

with Frank Newell and Brian Edwards at 

Road Tankers Northern, which he joined 

in 1992, is still dealing with both Senior 

and Junior Bilslands. Since Clive joined 

RTN, both it and Bilslands have 

expanded enormously. “They’re 

currently running 16 tankers, rigids and 

artics,” says Clive. 

He has just supplied the present-day Jim 

Bilsland Junior with a new Volvo FM13 

6x2 rear steer tanker, carrying 20,000 

litres in five compartments, and a threeaxle 

towbar trailer carrying 18,000 litres 

in three compartments. 

“When they took the Volvo this year, 

the conversation between father and 

son was exactly the same: ‘What do you 

want something that big for?’,“ smiles 

Clive. 

But there’s no doubt the new rig is 

being put to good use. “It’s used for 

bringing stock to the Glasgow depot 

and it delivers without the trailer. We 

use it for some third-party work and we 

also take stock to Bute,” said Bilsland’s 

Franny Nicol, who has been with the 

company for over 20 years and also 

deals with Clive. 

“We get along very well with Clive. He 

calls a spade a spade and listens to what 

we want. He’s said he will continue to 

work for as long as he’s able and we’re 

happy to deal with him,” says Franny. 


www.rtnltd.co.uk 

www.jamesdbilsland.com 

FPS’s European 

lobbyists win 

major accolade 

News 

Cambre Associates, the company 

engaged to lobby EC 

representatives for European fuel 

distributors’ associations (including 

FPS and its members), have won 

both ‘Consultancy of the Year’ and 

‘Campaign of the Year’ at 2010’s 

European Public Affairs Awards. 

The awards highlight success and 

encourage best practice 

throughout the European public 

affairs community, as well as 

recognising individuals, 

organisations, issues and 

campaigns. 

FPS Chief Executive Susan Hancock 

said: “Cambre work effectively for 

us at a European level and ensure 

the views of oil distributors are 

heard and considered by the vast 

and complex EC machine. We’re 

pleased that their efforts for us 

and others have been recognized.” 


www.cambre-associates.com 

Below: the present Jim Bilsland Junior 

(left) and Jim Bilsland Senior (centre) and 

RTN’s Clive Felton with the first new 

tanker he sold the company (left) back in 

1984, and the latest acquisition with 

towbar trailer (right), supplied this year. 


News 

RF system ups 

fuel security 

OPW Fuel Management Systems 

has launched the PetroLink Fuel 

Control System, a system that 

enables fleet managers to monitor 

vehicle IDs, mileage and other 

important fueling information 

through radio frequency (RFID) 

technology. 

PetroLink provides a high level of 

fuel security and accountability, 

accurately capturing data without 

driver intervention. It needs no 

wires, fuel-authorization cards and 

the makers says the components 

are quick and easy to install. 

It will not allow fuel to be 

dispensed unless the proper RFID 

tag is identified and unless the 

PetroLink meter receives an 

accurate odometer reading. The 

wireless process takes only seconds 

to execute. 


www.OPWGlobal.com 

Internet sales target 

Bonnymans, a supplier of biodiesel 

chemical components, is aiming to 

notch up £1 million in internetbased 

business. 

Bonnymans also supplies cleaning 

materials to car washes, car valeting 

operators and sanitisers and 

general chemicals for a variety of 

purposes. It has a £5.2 million 

turnover and MD Stephen Allam is 

determined to break the £1 millionworth 

of internet trade to 

celebrate his 25 years of ownership 

of the Ayrshire-based company. 


www.bonnymans.co.uk 

FPS EXPO 2011: Exhibitors 

snapping up extra stands 

DEMAND FROM POTENTIAL EXHIBITORS 

TO SHOW AT FPS EXPO 2011 has been 

so strong that they have snapped up 

almost all the additional stands created 

when the organisers re-designed the 

hall layouts. 

At the time of writing, just two of 

nearly two dozen extra stands remained 

available for the EXPO, which takes 

place at the Harrogate International 

Centre on 13-14 April 2011. 

“Demand has been tremendous,” said 

EXPO Organiser Vanessa Cook. “We 

re-organised the halls to create extra 

stands after we completely sold out of 

space as long ago as September. Now it 

looks as if all the additional stands will 

be spoken for by the end of the year.” 

“It’s shaping up to be another highly 

successful event.” 

Running alongside the exhibition on 

both days will be a series of workshops 

for delegates. Further details of these 

will be announced nearer the time of 

the EXPO via the website 

www.fpsshow.co.uk 

Up-to-the-minute details of FPS EXPO 

2011 can be obtained from the website 

www.fpsshow.co.uk or by calling 

Vanessa or Joan at the FPS on 

+44 (0) 1565 631313. 

FPS GOLF DAY 2011 

Sponsored by 

The annual FPS 

Golf Day for 

2011 moves to 

the historic Oakdale Golf Club, 

Harrogate on 13 April. The course was 

designed in 1914 by Dr Alister 

MacKenzie. His courses are revered by 

golfers the world over and famously 

include Royal Melbourne, Cypress Point 

and Augusta National, home of The 

Masters. Numbers are limited and entry 

forms are available from the FPS. The 

advice is to book early! 

FPS ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER 

Speaker at the FPS 

Annual Awards Dinner 

held on the evening of 14 

April will be quickfire 

Liverpudlian comedian 

John Martin (right). John 

has been re-booked by popular demand 

following his first visit to the post-EXPO 

dinner in 2007. In a departure from 

previous years, John will also compere 

the awards. 

Following the awards, Sponsored by 

the highly popular Fun 

Casino will be in full 

swing, again sponsored 

by Adler + Allan. 

Further details of the dinner and how to 

book tickets and tables are available at 

www.fpsshow.co.uk 

FPS launch new Award 

FPS IS LAUNCHING A NEW AWARD FOR 

2011. The FPS Service to Industry Award 

will be presented to someone who has 

worked closely with the downstream 

industry over a number of years and 

made a specific contribution. That 

contribution could be either a technical 

advance, a working method, or years of 

service that have added up to an 

outstanding input to the way our sector 

operates. 

Sponsored by 

Fuelpricesonline.com 

specialist fuel market reports, alerts & analysis 

Nominations are invited from FPS 

members and should be forwarded to 

either your FPS Regional Representative 

(details at www.fpsonline.co.uk) or 

direct to Chief Executive Susan Hancock, 

email sh@fpsonline.co.uk by the 

deadline of Friday 18 February 2011. 


TIME FOR YOUR ENTRIES! 

FPS Driver of the Year 

DO YOU HAVE THE BEST TANKER 

DRIVER IN THE UK AND IRELAND? The 

one who makes sure the customer is 

kept happy, who takes a pride in the 

job, who takes responsibility and who 

takes care of the vehicle and the way 

it’s driven. 

We know that these people exist 

because of the tremendous examples 

set by previous winners and runners-up 

in the FPS Driver of the Year Awards, 

sponsored by OAMPS. In 2010, Jeremy 

Cook of Samuel Cooke and Co in 

Barnsley was the man who took the 

judges’ votes, closely followed by Bob 

Cook of CPL Petroleum and Craig 

Harrison of Hall Fuels. Their rewards, 

were £1,000 for the winner, and 

runners-up prizes of £250, all presented 

at the FPS Awards Dinner at FPS EXPO 

2010, Harrogate. 

Now the annual hunt for top FPS driver 

is on again for 2011, and we want your 

entries! There’s an entry form enclosed 

with this issue of Downstream and it’s 

also available to download at 

www.fpsshow.co.uk – or call the FPS on 

+44 (0) 1565 631313. 

FPS Employee of the Year 

WE’RE ON THE HUNT FOR THE 

FPS EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR 2011. 

SO WHO IS THE PERSON IN YOUR 

OFFICE WHO MOST DESERVES IT? 

This time, we’ve removed the ‘Young’ 

from the title to open the award out to 

everyone. 

We want to hear from you about 

ANYONE, OF ANY AGE, who puts the 

sparkle and ideas into your business. Or 

maybe it’s a dedicated long server. 

Maybe the one who keeps a level head 

when others are panicking! Or the one 

who finds a solution to a particularly 

irritating problem. 

To be eligible for the FPS Employee of 

the Year Award, your employee can be 

any age and work absolutely anywhere 

in the business – except as a tanker 

driver because they have their own 

dedicated award (above). 

Sponsored by 

Sponsored by 

The winner will receive the title plus 

£1,000 prize money from sponsors 

Reynolds. Two runners-up will receive 

£250 each. All will receive engraved 

crystal trophies and the awards will be 

presented at the FPS Annual Awards 

Dinner in Harrogate. 

Entry is easy - use the enclosed form 

and send it to Vanessa Cook at FPS, 

vc@fpsonline.co.uk or fax +44 (0) 1565 

631314. Deadline for Employee of the 

Year entries to be received is 

28 Feburary 2011. 

For the very latest on 

FPS EXPO 2011, visit the 

website www.fpsshow.co.uk 

FPS Annual Awards 

Use these tips to 

help give your 

employee the 

best chance 

■ Get your forms in as soon as 

you can. Closing dates are 

4 February for Driver, 

18 February for Employee. 

■ In answering how your 

entrant has ‘gone the extra 

mile’, think about great 

customer service, 

outstanding environmental 

care, thoughtfulness about 

procedures. 

■ DRIVERS will have an 

interview, so brief your 

nominated driver on the 

award beforehand so that 

they can prepare. Please 

reassure them that the 

interview is a relaxed 

occasion. We’re not out to 

catch anyone out, we want 

to find out how much they 

enjoy their job. There is no 

need for them to be nervous. 

■ Allow DRIVERS enough time 

for the interview: remember, 

they will be under pressure 

from knowing someone is 

coming to see them. It’s not 

fair on the driver to expect 

them to slot the interview in 

between deliveries! 

■ In the case of EMPLOYEES, 

have they shown initiative in 

dealing with a situation, or 

in contributing ideas and/or 

helped to build the business? 

These are the things we want 

to know about. Please be as 

detailed as possible. 


News 

Extra fuel 

cleaning system 

PFS Fueltec, a fuel storage 

installation, leak prevention and 

spillage clear-up specialist, has 

added C.C Jensen fuel cleaning 

systems to its range. 

Historically, CCJ filter separators 

were offline systems, but their new 

inline system can be used on fuel 

dispensing pumps between the 

pump outlet and the refuelling 

nozzle, filtering the fuel before it 

enters the vehicle storage tanks. 

The CCJ filter separator cuts 

moisture down to low levels and at 

the same time captures particles 

and absorbs sludge into the filter 

media. Each filter insert can catch 

around 5 kg of dirt before change 

is required. The systems are 

modular and can deal with 

quantities from 100 litres up to 1 

million litres. 

Jensens supply over 90% of the 

Danish fishing fleet and Scottish 

skippers are retro-fitting the system 

to their boats. On land, the 

company’s filter systems are in use 

in quarries and transport fleets. 


www.pfsfueltec.com 

One of the appliances from 

PFS Fueltec 

Safer still at Suckling... 

FUEL TANKER OPERATOR SUCKLING 

Transport has noted a big reduction in 

the severity and frequency of crashes in 

the fleet. 

Suckling Transport reports a 76% decline 

last year in the severity of accidents, 

with the frequency of accidents falling 

from an average of 6.12 per one million 

kilometres during the previous four 

years to 2.88 in 2009. That reduction 

resulted in a 14% insurance premium 

decrease this year. 

The Essex-based company operates a 

fleet of 65 tankers, which deliver almost 

two billion litres of inflammable liquid 

per year across the UK from 10 oil 

terminals to filling stations and other 

commercial delivery points. It also has 

eight company cars. The total fleet 

travels approximately 9.5 million 

kilometres (six million miles) a year 

Suckling, whose main clients include 

Shell UK Oil and ConocoPhillips, 

launched a Zero Incident Project two 

years ago to try to eliminate accidents, 

and the latest figures are a major step in 

the right direction. 

Suckling’s MD Peter Larner champions 

the company’s approach to road safety. 

He says: “The company competes in a 

market sector dominated by large, 

multi-national companies. To compete 

successfully, we must differentiate 

ourself and road safety seems to be the 

Prax parent listed in UK top 250 

FUEL TRADER STATE OIL, whose UK 

importing arm is Prax Petroleum, has 

made it into this year's Sunday Times 

Top Track 250. 

This annual league table ranks Britain's 

biggest mid-market private companies 

by their latest sales and only includes 

companies that have either increased 

revenues or boosted their operating 

profits during the latest financial year. 

State Oil sales have increased 78% to 

£261.6 million for the financial year 

ending February 2010. 

perfect way to do this. Road safety saves 

money as well as lives. Training is seen 

by the workforce as career development 

not punishment.” 

Suckling is a signatory to the European 

Road Safety Charter, and has joined the 

Government-backed ‘Driving for Better 

Business’ campaign. The company has 

won a string of industry awards for its 

approach to occupational road risk 

management. 

‘Driving for Better Business’ campaign 

director Caroline Scurr said: “Suckling 

Transport is a great example of good 

leadership in a small business. The 

hands-on approach by the company’s 

managing director is exactly the type of 

occupational road risk management and 

leadership that we encourage in 

business.” 


www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com 

www.sucklingtransport.co.uk 

Prax, one the UK's largest fuel importers 

and an ISO 9001 listed company, sources 

from a range of European refineries. It 

services customers such as Stagecoach 

Bus, Royal Mail, the Ministry of Defence 

and British Nato bases. Don Camillo, 

State Oil director, said: "We attribute 

our growth to the fact that we offer 

competitive pricing and exceptionally 

high levels of service. We aim to 

continue providing both and hope to 

feature again next year." 


www.stateoil.co.uk 

www.praxpetroleum.com 


FPS driver training scheme 

moves into overdrive 

THE FIRST FULL YEAR of the FPS Driver 

Certificate of Professional Competence 

training has seen almost 2,000 drivers 

complete course modules. 

FPS has developed the course specifically 

to cover the particular needs and 

demands that the petrol and diesel 

distribution industry places on tanker 

drivers. 

“The training of lorry drivers is statutory, 

and FPS felt that member companies 

and their drivers would benefit more 

from a dedicated course than from a 

generic course for general lorry driving. 

The fantastic response we have had 

from companies and from the drivers 

themselves shows we were correct,” said 

FPS CPC Co-ordinator Keith Ashton. 

Each driver must complete 35 hours’ 

accredited CPC training before 

September 2014. Rather than lose their 

drivers for a complete week of training 

up to 2014, most distributors have 

chosen to allow staff to complete one 

training day per year in order to comply. 

“If you have not commenced training, 

we can easily help you to catch up and 

organise this for you either at your 

premises or at one of our regional 

training centres,” said Keith. 

As reported in the Autumn 

Downstream, the FPS course has already 

received glowing reports from the 

standards watchdog, the Joint Approvals 

Unit for Periodic Training. 


Keith Ashton at FPS, email 

ka@fpsonline.co.uk or 

phone +44 (0) 1565 631313. 

The FPS Driver CPC is specially geared to the specific conditions 

that tanker drivers meet on a daily basis 

Alpeco registers 

Total successes 

News 

Liquids transfer specialist Alpeco has 

designed and supplied Ayrshire company 

Maxi Haulage with a portable, engine 

driven pump for transferring AdBlue 

from trailer-mounted IBCs to customers’ 

bulk storage tanks. The 

Alpeco pump unit 

(right) is in a steel frame 

built to the same 

dimensions as an IBC. It 

can be loaded easily onto a lorry 

alongside full IBC containers. Maxi 

secured a contract to deliver Total UK’s 

packed goods and subsequently its 

AdBlue offering. Alpeco has also recently 

supplied a three-pump, three-metre 

system to Lakeland Tankers for fitting to 

Wincanton trailers being used to 

transport 40,000 litre split loads of oils for 

Total Lubricants. 


www.alpeco.co.uk 

Organised Have you organised your drivers’ your 

CPC drivers’ Training CPC Training yet? yet? 

FPS Driver CPC Periodic Training is specifically 

designed for the oil distribution industry 

Six modular, cost-effective day courses bring 

maximum benefit to the driver and minimal 

disruption to your business 

Quality training by oil industry experienced 

trainers 

One-to-one driver assessment day 

For more information call Keith Ashton 

+44 (0) 1565 631313, email ka@fpsonline.co.uk 

In partnership with 


Sulphur-free gas oil 

Are your customers ready for spec change? 

The fuel changes will affect all sorts of non-road machinery from farm through forestry, construction and gensets to water craft 

THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY of publicity in the industry about the 

change to nominally sulphur-free gas oil (SFGO) for non road 

mobile machinery (NRMM) from 1 January 2011, but are your 

customers prepared? 

NRMM includes tractors and other agricultural equipment, 

forestry equipment, construction equipment, forklifts, portable 

generators, inland waterway vessels, recreational craft – 

Speed, service and 

environmental integrity 

0800 592827 

24hr Emergency Response 

www.adlerandallan.co.uk 

� Oil spill response, site audits, drain, forecourt 

& separator services 

� Tank supply, installation, cleaning, repairs, 

testing and removal 

� Fuel deliveries, polishing, installation services, 

uplifts & transfers, waste disposal and 

tankering 

anything that isn’t bolted down. Railway vehicles are also 

covered, but with a delayed implementation date of 1 January 

2012. 

Refiners and importers have been busy taking their gas oil 

tanks out of service to prepare them for the new specification 

and most will have SFGO available by early December. But 

what about customers’ tanks? 

Whilst it will still be legal to use the old specification fuel after 

1 January 2011, the new fuel may be essential to the operation 

of some newer pieces of equipment, such as tractor engines 

meeting the latest European emissions standards. It is a big 

drop from 1000ppm to 10ppm and few, if any, end users will 

be cleaning out their tanks. That means there will still be a 

volume of 1000ppm gas oil in their tanks when they top up 

with the new fuel. 

THREE REFILLS TO REACH THE REQUIRED SPECIFICATION 

For example, take a 5,000 litre tank. If there is 1,000 litres of 

the old specification gas oil in it when it’s topped up with the 

new spec, the resultant mixture will be about 208ppm sulphur 

– way above the 10ppm limit (although there is a +10ppm 

tolerance to allow for contamination in the distribution 

system, ie a top limit of 20ppm). A further fill with SFGO will 

bring the level down to around 50ppm. Only at the third fill 

will the tank contents meet the SFGO specification. 

A further issue that may lead to comeback from customers is 

the change in colour and smell of the new product. It may 

make them think there’s something wrong with it – because it 

looks more like diesel. This is also bringing problems for drivers 

with line changes as it is more difficult to see the colour 

change between the gas oil and derv in the sight glass. 


More information on the changeover can be found under the 

Information tab on the FPS website, www.fpsonline.co.uk 

where there is advice from the Department for Transport and 

also information on how users of gas oil for heating will be 

affected. 


FPS Update 

FUEL QUALITY DIRECTIVE 

There is still some uncertainty about 

what type of gas oil will be available 

where, once the new specification for 

Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) 

comes into force on 1 January 2011. 

The inland waterway and recreational 

craft sectors remain extremely 

concerned at the likelihood of FAME 

being present in gas oil and causing 

problems such as engine failure. This 

would be dangerous in many situations. 

FPS and other oil industry trade 

associations have continued to attend 

DfT-organised meetings to try to work 

out the best way to avoid FAME getting 

into the marina fuel supply chain. 

At sea, boat engine failure caused by 

FAME in gas oil could 

be extremely dangerous 

BIOFUELS POLICY 

FPS will be participating in the Dept of 

Energy & Climate Change (DECC) 

Downstream Oil Industry Forum in mid 

December. 

The Forum will concentrate on biofuelsrelated 

policy and the DECC’s Head of 

Biofuels Regulation is due to join the 

meeting. FPS will put forward members’ 

views on biofuels in the supply chain. 

NEW TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS ON 

FPS WEBSITE 

A new technical guide has been posted 

in the Members’ Zone of the FPS website 

– the Office Handbook. 

RE-CLASSIFICATION OF HFO 

FPS is working with the Tank Storage 

Association and UKPIA in addressing the 

re-classification of HFO that will bring 

storage of 100+ tonnes within the 

COMAH Regulations if it is incorporated 

in Material Safety Data sheets. HSE is in 

discussions with the EC about it. The 

best option may be for HFO to become a 

named product in the revision of the 

Seveso II directive in 2015. If that 

happens, a higher threshold volume 

could be agreed. 

IRELAND 

National Energy Retrofit programme: 

FPS met the Dept for Communications, 

Energy & Natural Resources in Dublin in 

October to discuss how the Irish 

Government intends to apply its 

National Energy Retrofit programme to 

the spot market. There are no easy 

answers to this, which may be why, in 

the UK, many programmes such as the 

Carbon Emissions Reduction Target, 

were not applied to spot market fuels. 

FPS was not very encouraged by the 

response from the Dept but is due to 

visit Sustainable Energy Authority of 

Ireland, which is responsible for devising 

the details of the scheme. 

FUELS FRAUD IN THE REPUBLIC 

FPS members in some areas of the 

Republic are becoming increasingly 

concerned that fuels fraud is becoming 

more widespread. This is partly a 

consequence of the UK’s RDCO scheme 

that has tightened up supply available 

to fraudsters in the North. FPS has 

written to the Revenue Commissioners 

requesting a meeting to discuss how 

they can take more action against the 

illegal fuel trade. (See also page 16.) 


FPS members 

Life and near-death 

DRIVING RAIN. HAMMERING WINDS. 

Peasouper fog. Lightning. Wild 

temperatures. Everyday occurrences for 

any fuel distributor, you may think. 

But until you’ve survived the extremes 

of conditions like these aboard a 68-foot 

clipper on a 40,000 mile ocean race, 

you’ve been through nothing! Just ask 

Scott Thomson, General Manager of 

Chrystal Petroleum’s’ Lothians and 

Borders depot. 

Scott spent nine weeks as part of the 18 

crew on one of 10 yachts in the Clipper 

2009-10. In this, the world’s longest 

round-the-world sea race, he sailed the 

final leg from Jamaica via New York, 

Canada, Ireland and Amsterdam back to 

the finish line at Hull. 

Memories to last a lifetime? Of course. 

Talk to Scott about the Clipper event for 

even a few minutes and the crises and 

triumphs tumble out in a very matter-offact 

way: 

“We hit a whale in the middle of the 

Atlantic in the middle of the night. It 

was an enormous thump but with 30 

tonnes of boat, no serious damage was 

done,” he says. 

“In the Bahamas, we were struck by 

lightning while trying to save the 

spinnaker. It’s a mountain of a sail, the 

biggest on the boat. A squall hit really 

suddenly in the night. It was an allhands-on-deck 

call. Amazing stuff, one 

minute pitch black, then we were 

blinded by lightning strikes on the sea 

all around us and then a direct strike 

and showers of sparks from the top of 

the mast. I have never been in rain like 

it, like the biggest power shower you 

could imagine, but constant. We did get 

the sail down, but it was the biggest 

adrenaline-raising moment of the 

voyage.” 

1 

“Producing food for a crew of 18 in the 

galley was a real challenge. We were 

about to serve up when the boat got 

thrown off the top of a wave. The food 

took off and went everywhere – over 

the crew, up the walls. Everything was 

coated. Dinner was late that night.” 

“The winds were so strong and seas so 

big on the Canada to Ireland leg that we 

arrived in less than nine days, four days 

One minute pitch 

black, then we were 

blinded by lightning 

strikes on the sea all 

around us and then a 

direct strike 

earlier than expected. My daughters 

were scheduled to meet me in Ireland, 

and we had to sit and wait for them.” 

“One of the crew broke her leg in the 

Atlantic and there is no way off in those 

circumstances. She spent the rest of the 

trip to Ireland dosed with painkillers and 

strapped to her bunk.” 

“We were in a storm Force 10 and it was 

wild. A lot of the crew were down with 

sea sickness so there were only four 

people, me included, to deal with issues. 

The head sail got ripped off in that 

storm.” 

“Fog was a problem several times. 

Heading for Amsterdam, we hit heavy 

Downstream Winter 2010 12 www.downstreammagazine.co.uk 

2

on the ocean waves 

4 

fog in a lot of shipping. We were sailing 

with GPS and radar, but it meant 

extreme extra vigilance because an oil 

tanker will give way to sail only if it sees 

you…” 

This is just a taste of the catalogue of 

memories that Scott has brought back to 

the less turbulent surroundings of the 

Chrystal office. An experienced coastal 

sailor even before the Clipper Race, 

Scott readily acknowledges the value of 

the Clipper organisation’s intensive 

training to ready people for the ocean 

event, and in instilling a real thirst for 

adventure in those who made it through 

the courses. “A lot of people fell by the 

wayside in training,” Scott remembers. 

Prior to the race, Scott also maintained 

weekend sailing in his 23’ coastal hopper 

and did some intensive gym work to 

gain the fitness level needed for the 

unrelenting pressure of the race. “Four 

hours on watch and four off – 

continuously. It stretches the physical 

and mental sides of it,” he says. 

The dangers of the race were extreme – 

two of the yachts were dismasted in the 

Pacific, another holed and sunk off 

Indonesia, there was a 120° capsize, and 

countless other tales of death-defying 

mayhem. 

Scott’s boat eventually lost its spinnaker 

in fierce Atlantic weather. But they 

survived and eventually the finish line 

was crossed. “We sailed back into Hull 

on the Saturday and on the Monday 

morning I was back behind my desk. It 

was a bit of a shock to the system,” he 

says. 

Living cheek by lifejacket with imminent 

disaster for weeks on end forges strong 

bonds and a unique trust among crew 

members and all aboard Scott’s boat are 

keeping in contact with reunions. With 

1 Scott at the helm. 2 Scott (third 

left) and co-crew in a foggy leg to 

Amsterdam. 3 The clipper heads 

for Manhattan Island. 4 Ever the 

oilman, Scott uses shore time to 

check a tanker in Canada. He 

found there were no drivers on 

the fiddle (right)!! 

the race now in the past, Scott harbours 

another ambition: sailing the huge seas 

of the Southern Ocean leg of the Clipper 

race. 

This is likely to be a retirement project, 

since it runs in the Southern summer – 

our winter. “The Jamaica to Hull leg was 

ideal for me, because it coincided with a 

time of year when our trade is quieter 

and Andrew (Chrystal, the MD) was 

good enough to allow me the time off I 

needed,” he says. 

“I really would like to thank most 

sincerely all of my colleagues at Chrystal 

Petroleum without whose support this 

adventure of a lifetime would not have 

been possible.” 

Does Scott’s wife, Lindsay, the head 

physio to the Scottish team at the 

Commonwealth Games, enjoy a spot of 

adventure sailing with her husband? 

“My wife only sails with me when gin 

and tonic is available and the sun’s 

shining,” he quips. “Everyone else in 

Chrystal thinks what I do is completely 

bonkers too.” If, on the other hand, you 

feel Scott’s actions are those of a 

normal, sane individual, recruiting of 

crew is under way for Clipper 2011-12. 


Go to www.clipperroundtheworld.com 

for more details. 

Downstream Winter 2010 13 www.downstreammagazine.co.uk 

3

FPS transport briefing – 1 

A full turnout of delegates from fuel distributors 

around Britain received comprehensive briefings on the 

latest issues at the FPS Transport Managers’ Update 

held in Birmingham. On this and the next three pages 

Downstream brings you the key points 

O Licence Q and A CDG/ADR 

Matthew Barker, VOSA. 

O Licence Legal Compliance 

MATTHEW RAN HIS WORKSHOP as an 

open question session. Issues addressed 

included: 

ATFs 

Fees at the new network of Accredited 

Test Facilities are likely to be uniform, 

and more local bases will provide 

benefits for tanker operators, including 

less downtime and reduced driving and 

mileage to get to a test centre. The 

structure should reduce test costs and 

lead to healthy competition. ATFs will be 

provided by the private sector and VOSA 

staff will be working the lines to check 

vehicles, he said. 

ADR 

The fail rate is very low, with most 

problems arising from incorrect 

documentation and tank inspections. 

On tanks, there is likely to be an ADR 

test for new tanks and a different one 

for old tanks that were not built to ADR 

standards. 

Sideguards 

Delegates complained of having to put a 

bar across the meter box to comply with 

a tester’s request, and pointed out that 

the bars had no protective use and 

interfered with the work of the driver. 

Matthew said that sideguards are a grey 

area with testers. 

Roadside checks 

There was annoyance that VOSA 

officials apply the letter of the law from 

the regulations handbook rather than 

applying common sense. 

Fire extinguishers 

Matthew said that these are the biggest 

area of prohibitions, but the easiest to 

avoid. An in-cab extinguisher has to be 

‘accessible but not within arm’s reach of 

the driver’. Inspectors found a lot of 

extinguishers either locked up or with 

mounts rusted up so they could not be 

used in an emergency. Drivers should 

always check extinguishers before 

leaving the depot. 

Operator Compliance Risk Scoring 

VOSA is now able to grade drivers’ hours 

offences on a national fleet basis so 

penalties are fairer across the board. 

Each operator receives a 

red/amber/green grading according to 

his status within the whole national 

lorry fleet and those on red status can 

expect more checks to encourage them 

to raise their standards. 

Fixed penalties 

These go hand in hand with 

immobilisation and a chain removal fee 

of £80 applied. 

Web monitoring 

A new web link, 

www.businesslink.gov.uk/servicereports 

allows operators to access their vehicle 

test histories, encounter reports and 

OCRS ratings online. 

ADR signage 

The new environmental ‘dead tree and 

fish’ sign is needed on tankers carrying 

petroleum products from 1 January 2011 

Instructions in Writing 

Matthew advised that the best place to 

keep this is in the cab, rather than 

issuing it to drivers in person. 

Over-securing a fire extinguisher 

can make it unusable 

Clive Dennis, HSE 

CLIVE’S REVIEW OF CDG/ADR 

highlighted seven key areas of 

problems seen during roadside checks. 

These were fire extinguishers, 

documentation, other equipment, 

Instructions in Writing (IiW), ADR 

certificates and other training, vehicle 

plating and placarding, and leakage. 

Extinguishers are the single biggest 

reason for enforcement action, running 

at a third of breaches, although this has 

shrunk from being nearer a half. He 

cautioned that, while extinguishers had 

to have tamper-proof ties, they could 

not be so secure as to stop use. 

Clive conceded that a linked paper 

document was an acceptable 

workaround to a distributor’s inability 

to display a product ID in full on 

computerised documentation because 

of software field limitations. 

Talking of first-quarter 2010 figures, 

Clive said there has been little change 

from four or five years ago. Of 678 

dangerous goods vehicles stopped, 39% 

showed CDG breaches, 54 had merited 

prohibition notices and a further 156 

had received ‘other actions’. 

Enforcement problems have been 

limited following changes to the 

Instructions in Writing rules. 

Clive declared that HSE will operate a 

‘light touch’ policy when it comes to 

checking new EHS marks. He pointed 

out that ADR 9.1 certificates do not 

cover the tank of tankers. 

Commenting on the switch to 

computer-based information systems, 

Clive asked if anyone in the audience 

was yet using electronic documentation 

for ADR. “It will come,” he predicted. 


Process Safety for distributors 

Michael Ong, FPS Technical Adviser 

PROCESS SAFETY IS SIMPLY the control 

and safe containment of the product 

throughout the delivery chain. Michael 

split this into three sections. 

Depot storage 

The safe storage of the fuel while in the 

depot. This would include a system for 

inspection, test and maintenance of 

storage plant and equipment in the 

depot, including tanks, associated 

equipment such as tank gauging and 

overfill equipment, bunds, gantries, 

pumps, pipelines, interceptors and all 

associated equipment. Completion of 

the DSEAR study and the requirement to 

carry out the electrical inspection of 

plant, switchgear and tank earth system 

were all covered in this section. 

In transit 

He explained the duty of the driver and 

Specialist Credit 

Insurance Brokers 

Bad debts are an unfortunate fact of life in fuel 

distribution. Credit insurance offers a 

cost-effective solution and, as acknowledged 

market leaders in providing credit insurance to 

the oil industry, we are pleased to make our 

services available to 

FPS members. 

Authorised and 

regulated by the 

Financial Services 

Authority 

For a free-of-charge, 

non-obligatory 

consultation 

please contact 

PAUL MARTIN 

on 0161 905 5514 

or e-mail on 

pmartin@reynoldsinsure.com 

www.reynoldsinsure.com 

operational staff to ensure that the 

tanker and its load was safe before 

leaving the depot and driving on the 

public highway. The driver and 

operational staff in the depot must be 

trained and assessed as competent in 

the role they performed. Distributors 

must meet the requirements and duties 

of the Operator Licence, ADR and HSE 

legislation to ensure that the vehicle was 

compliant in all respects. The vehicle 

workshop, either in house or a third 

party contractor should be audited to 

ensure competency in dealing with 

dangerous goods tankers. 

Loading and unloading 

The duties and responsibilities of the 

driver and the company when loading at 

the depot or at a third party terminal 

and the subsequent safe delivery of the 

product into the customer storage. To 

achieve this safely, the company would 

require procedures and policies relevant 

www.graydon.co.uk 

to the operation and the need to ensure 

the training was suitable to the tasks 

performed. Other items to be 

considered would be the safe loading 

pass and the DGSA input and their 

reports. Michael pointed to a variety of 

process safety documentation available 

to FPS members to download from the 

FPS website to help ensure they meet 

standards throughout the delivery chain. 

These include the Driver Handbook / 

Procedure Manual; Depot Handbook / 

Procedure Manual; Depot Maintenance 

and Plant Inspection Programme; 

Vehicle Policy, workshops and vehicle 

recovery advice; and DSEAR (Dangerous 

Substances, Explosive Atmosphere 

Regulations) advice. 


Contact Michael Ong by emailing 

mo@fpsonline.co.uk or by mobile 

07979 070803. 

Petroleum Distributors 

Intelligence Unit (PDIU) 

The leading provider of Credit Risk 

Management information and solutions for 

the petroleum and associated sectors. 

Graydon, in partnership with Reynolds Trade Credit and 

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) provide an intelligence unit specifically 

for the petroleum sector. This is a network specifically designed to 

protect members against the risk of bad debts and slow payments. 

• Unsatisfied payments (e.g. RD & RDPR cheques and direct debits) 

• Collection / Legal actions commences against a debtor 

• ‘Gone aways’ and other critical events 

This is real-time information and once collected the information is 

distributed amongst all PDIU members*. PDIU members also benefit 

from free insolvency advice from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). 

The message for credit and financial managers in the fuel distribution 

sector is very clear; you now have the weapons to start fighting back! 

Interested to find out more? 

Contact: Michaela Hilton Tel: 07739 201 835 / 0208 515 1442 

*All members report anonymously. Operated within the constraints of the Consumer Credit 

Act (1974), Data Protection Act (1988) and the Competition Act (1988). 


FPS transport briefing – 2 

Wetline contamination and illicit fuel 

Pat Curtis, 

National Oils Coordinator, 

Road Fuels Testing Units, HMRC 

THERE IS A DILEMMA posed by 

Customs’ need to catch and convict fuel 

launderers and the difficulties of 

distributors whose delivery pipes show 

traces of rebated fuel in full duty road 

fuel. 

“Without prejudice to any other action, 

the fuel cannot remain in the market 

place as road fuel and must be uplifted 

and downgraded appropriately. The 

Department has a zero tolerance 

policy,” he said. 

Pat spelt out the enormity of the illicit 

fuel laundering business and the impact 

on government tax revenues exerted by 

organised criminal fuel launderers, with 

easy exchange of information on the 

internet and the easy availability of 

marker removers. 

UK oil receipts amount to 

£26,197,000,000, with diesel making up 

half that figure. If the illicit market share 

of diesel runs at 5%, the tax gap would 

be £684,350,000, he said. 

Ingenuity and deviousness are rife 

among organised gangs and Pat cited 

several examples of split tanks, and even 

a hollow chassis, as ways used to conceal 

the illicit fuel. A new generation of fuel 

extenders is adding to problems but 

new detection techniques, Xray sulphur 

tests, solvent tests and SET (silica) tests, 

are helping the fightback. 

In Northern Ireland, where a policy of 

‘two strikes and out’ operates, HMRC 

has actually closed and dismantled one 

filling station, digging up its storage 

tanks. While not on the face of it costeffective, 

the deterrent publicity value 

had made it worth it. 

He estimated that seven out of 10 

independent filling stations in Northern 

Ireland had been selling dodgy fuel at 

one point, but HMRC action has now cut 

that to about 30%. A typical laundering 

plant will process a million litres a year, 

losing £600,000 worth of tax revenue to 

Split tanks found in HMRC checks 

(above). Below, a container full of 

illicit fuel storage and work under 

way on decommissioning a filling 

station selling illicit fuel 

the government and making the 

criminals £400,000. 

With duty likely to rise by about 30p per 

litre according to some pundits, there 

will be yet more incentive for criminals 

to move into the laundering business. 

Professional launderers would always try 

to deliver directly to customers such as 

taxi and transport firms, he said. 

Even though oil produces more for the 

public purse than tobacco or alcohol, it 

does not seem to be on the political 

priority radar. 

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR MINIMISING 

WETLINE CONTAMINATION 

So will there be any tolerance for UK 

distributors carrying split loads? Pat 

explained that HMRC has run a 

successful trial in Northern Ireland, the 

area presently thought to be most 

affected by criminal laundering, for 

three years. There is no reason it can’t 

work in the rest of the UK, he felt. 

Essentially, distributors must calibrate 

the total volume of the delivery 

wetline system from the outlet valve 

to the end of the delivery nozzle at 

least every six months, or sooner if the 

hose is damaged and repaired, or 

replaced. The system is first primed 

with kerosene and then changed to 

marked gas oil. 

Replacement is considered complete 

when the first traces of marker are 

seen. The volume must be recorded 

and the information provided to the 

driver through a label maintained as a 

company record for the vehicle. 

When the next delivery is a different 

product, the driver should set the 

meter for the volume to be delivered, 

less the volume of the wet line system. 

The driver should deliver the set 

volume into the customer’s tank and 

then change the delivery system to the 

compartment containing the product 

for the next delivery. The meter should 

be set to the volume of the wet line 

system and the delivery completed. 

Paperwork should enable stock 

reconciliation of the load and rapid 

identification of any 

contamination/mixing if it occurs and 

identification of customers who may 

have contaminated product. 

“If you run this system, we will not 

have a problem with you,” said Pat. 


The Code of Practice for Minimising 

Wetline Contamination can be found 

in the Members’ Zone of the FPS 

website www.fpsonline.co.uk. 


Biofuels issues highlighted 

David Whiskerd, Adler & Allan 

THE MOVE TOWARDS UPPING the ‘bio’ 

content in biofuels was being forced in 

by legislators who had given too little 

thought to the effects of these changes 

on users or suppliers. 

Derv to EN590 can carry up to 7% 

biodiesel and some might find its way 

into the gas oil supply chain. The 

implications for non-road mobile 

machinery – tractors, construction 

machinery, forklifts and the like – were 

potentially serious. 

ULSD could well be carrying pre-blended 

biodiesel before being marked for 

transfer to the gasoil chain, so farmers 

and commercial users could receive 

gasoil with a biodiesel content. This 

throws up operational issues about fuel 

quality, fuel storage, equipment 

malfunctions – from potential engine 

failure through breakdowns and 

Fuel supplies in war theatres 

Major Caroline Wade, HQ Land 

Forces, Logistics Support Branch 

QUOTES FROM ROMMEL and General 

Patten about the necessity of fuel for 

front line battle machines set the scene 

for Caroline Wade’s presentation about 

Afghanistan and Iraq. 

She explained that different types of 

vehicle – protected mobility vehicles, 

unmanned aerial vehicles and so on – 

demand different kinds of fuel. 

However, ULSD is the main fuel. The 

Supreme Fuel Group supplies all the 

fuel, monitored by Joint Forces support, 

which plans a programme of deliveries 

up to two months ahead of need. 

Deliveries to centres such as Camp 

Bastion are overseen by the Royal 

Engineers and RAF but rely to a 

surprising degree on Afghan 

contractors, third country nationals and 

mercenaries who “do anything we ask, 

at a price”. Fuel is stored in large fabric 

tanks and the extreme climates of both 

Afghanistan and Iraq mean that pumps 

increased emissions – and subsequent 

customer complaints that distributors 

could do nothing about. (See page 11 

for the FPS update on the issue.) 

On storage, David highlighted the fact 

that biodiesel is inherently attracted to 

water. Biodiesel can be derived from a 

variety of sources – rape, soya, used 

cooking oil and so on – so each mix 

could have different characteristics and 

reactions with water. Other storage 

problems include waxing, bacterial 

contamination, sediment and biomass 

sludge. Temperature affects microbial 

growth and a whole range of bugs and 

fungi can proliferate if conditions are 

suitable. 

There are significant implications for 

tank storage and tankers. Biofuels react 

badly with some metals and plastics and 

increased corrosion shortens tank lives. 

He recommended good housekeeping 

and preventative maintenance, 

Local ‘jingle’ trucks, so called 

because of the decorations they 

carry, are an essential part of the 

fuel supply operation in Afghanistan 

can suffer in the heat of the day and 

fuel expansion is a big factor in storage. 

Military bulk fuel carriers, helicopters 

and civilian tankers (nicknamed jingle 

trucks because of the quantity of 

decorations hanging off them) take the 

fuel to forward positions, and the aim is 

to make those positions self-sufficient 

for some time. 

particularly to keep water at bay. Fuel 

cleaning and polishing can rescue a 

consignment with water contamination. 

He wondered if in-line fuel test kits 

could help farmers and felt that 

customers could be encouraged to be 

more aware about the need to maintain 

good storage. 

In discussions that followed, FPS 

President David Hatherell pointed out 

that the fuel cleaning infrastructure is 

not suited to tractor and forklift users 

and other small operators because the 

quantities needed for a polishing 

treatment make it financially 

prohibitive. Are biocides the answer for 

farmers, he wondered. 

Others questioned how customers with 

common rail engines in tractors worth 

£140,000 or more will react when 

biofuel-related problems are classed as 

being outside the terms of their 

warranties. 

Fuel supply routes can be disrupted by 

insurgents or poor weather, organised 

crime or bribery demands, and delivery 

speeds are notoriously slow. Doublemanned 

tankers just keep going 

between safe points. The third party 

suppliers are responsible for their own 

security and pay protection companies 

to escort them on fuel runs. 

Contingency, Resilience and Risk are the 

buzz-words the supply forces live by in 

Afghanistan and Iraq, she said. There is 

no set budget for fuel and, although 

contracts are rigid at the time of signing, 

situations in a war zone change, so 

those on the ground have to adapt to 

cope. 

Contingency, 

Resilience and Risk 

are the buzz-words 

the supply forces live 

by in Afghanistan 

and Iraq 


Environmental regulation 

How new civil sanctions could 

JOHN GOLLAGLEE of Pannone LLP on the 

Environment Agency’s new civil sanction powers on environmental issues 

NEW CIVIL SANCTIONS FOR criminal 

offences were introduced by the 

Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions 

Act 2008 (RESA), with the aim of making 

the enforcement of environmental 

compliance quicker and more effective. 

Subsequent legislation – the 

Environmental Civil Sanctions (England) 

Order 2010 (and the Environmental Civil 

Sanctions (Wales) Order 2010) – has 

been introduced to enable the 

Environment Agency (EA) and Natural 

England to deal swiftly with the offence 

and secure prompt remediation rather 

than embarking on lengthy, costly 

criminal proceedings. 

This article summarises what each new 

sanction is, when it can be used and 

how these powers could be used against 

your business. 

1. Fixed Monetary Penalty (FMP) 

What is it? A cash penalty fixed at £300 

for businesses and £100 for individuals. 

When will it be used? When the EA is 

satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that 

an offence has been committed. It 

should be used for offences with minor 

or no direct environmental impact, such 

as paperwork or administrative errors. 

Additional information: The EA must 

serve a notice of intent before payment 

is demanded. Recipients can then make 

representations on the notice or receive 

50% off the penalty if they pay within 

28 days. If payment is not made within 

28 days, the EA can serve a Final Notice 

demanding payment. If payment is not 

received in the period then allowed, the 

amount of the penalty increases by 50%. 

Rights of appeal do exist. EA cannot 

serve an FMP if it has already issued a 

Variable Monetary Penalty (see below), 

Compliance Notice, Stop Notice or 

Restoration Notice for the same 

incident. EA cannot start a criminal 

prosecution in relation to the same 

offence that is the subject of the FMP. 

2. Variable Monetary Penalty 

(VMP) 

What is it? A cash penalty where the 

sum is dictated by the severity of the 

offence. The maximum must be lower 

than the maximum a court could impose 

for the same offence. The highest 

possible for a VMP is £250,000. 

When will it be used? A VMP is only 

available for certain environmental 

offences. The EA must be satisfied 

beyond reasonable doubt that an 

offence has been committed. It should 

be used for more serious environmental 

offences, particularly those where the 

offender has made some profit or saving 

by committing the offence. A VMP 

cannot be served if an FMP has already 

been issued or payment following a 

Notice of Intent has been made in 

respect of the same incident. 

Additional information: The EA must 

serve a notice of intent before payment 

is demanded. Recipients then have 28 

days to make representations or 

objections on the notice and/or the 

suggested fine. If representations are 

not made within 28 days the EA can 

serve a Final Notice demanding 

payment. Rights of appeal do exist. A 

VMP cannot be imposed on a person on 

more than one occasion in relation to 

the same act or omission. EA can only 

start a criminal prosecution in relation to 

the same offence that is the subject of 

the VMP if the offender fails to comply 

with the VMP. It is open to an offender 

to make a formal undertaking to the EA 

to take certain steps or make certain 

payments to those affected by the 

offender’s actions. The EA can choose 

whether or not to accept these “Third 

party Undertakings”. 

3. Compliance Notice 

What is it? An order requiring the 

offender to take specified steps, within a 

given timeframe, to prevent current or 

future non-compliance. 

When will it be used? A Compliance 

Notice is only available for certain 

environmental offences. This notice can 

only be served if the EA is satisfied 


offence has been committed. This will be 

used when previous advice or guidance 

to encourage compliance has not been 

followed and a formal notice has 

become necessary. A Compliance Notice 

cannot be served if an FMP has already 

been issued or payment following a 

Notice of Intent has been made in 

respect of the same incident. 

Additional information: A Compliance 

Notice cannot be imposed more than 

once in relation to the same act or 

omission. The EA must first serve a 

notice of intent advising the offender of 

its intention to serve the notice and 

their reasons for doing so. Recipients 

then have 28 days to make 

representations or objections. If 

representations are not made within 28 

days, the EA can serve a Final Notice 

demanding the action to be taken. 

Rights of appeal do exist. EA can only 


the same offence that is the subject of 

the Compliance Notice if the offender 

fails to comply with it. An offender can 

make a formal undertaking to the EA to 

take certain steps or make certain 

payments to those affected by the 

offender’s actions. The EA can choose 

whether or not to accept these “Third 

party Undertakings”. 

4. Restoration Notice 

What is it? An order requiring an 

offender to take specific steps, within a 

given timeframe, to put right any 

damage caused by its non-compliance. 

When will it be used? A Restoration 


environmental offences. This notice can 

only be served if the EA is satisfied 


offence has been committed. Such 

notices should be expected when 


affect your company 

restoration has not been undertaken 

voluntarily and no other suitable 

enforcement notice is available. They 

may also be used when previous advice 

or guidance to encourage restoration 

has not been followed. A Restoration 

Notice cannot be served if an FMP has 

already been issued or payment 

following a Notice of Intent has been 

made in respect of the same incident. 

Additional information: A Restoration 

Notice may not be imposed on more 

than one occasion in relation to the 

same act or omission. The EA must first 

serve a notice of intent advising the 

offender of its intention to serve the 

notice and their reasons for doing so. 

Recipients then have 28 days in which to 

make representations or objections. If 

representations are not made within 28 

days, the EA can serve a Final Notice 

demanding the action to be taken. 

Rights of appeal do exist. EA can only 


the offence that is the subject of the 

Restoration Notice if the offender fails 

to comply with it. An offender can make 

a formal undertaking to the EA to take 

certain steps or make certain payments 

to those affected by the offender’s 

actions. The EA can choose whether or 

not to accept these “Third party 

Undertakings”. 

5. Stop Notice 

What is it? A notice prohibiting a person 

from carrying on a specified activity or 

to prevent a specified activity until set 

steps have been taken by the offender. 

When will it be used? A Stop Notice is 

only available for certain environmental 

offences. Stop Notices will be used 

where the regulator reasonably believes 

that an activity is causing, or presents a 

significant risk of causing, serious harm 

to either human health or the 

environment. These notices can also be 

served where the regulator reasonably 

believes that an activity involves or is 

likely to involve the commission of an 

applicable offence. A Stop Notice cannot 

be served if an FMP has already been 

issued or payment following a Notice of 

Intent has been made for that incident. 

Additional information: As a lower 

standard of proof is required for a Stop 

Notice to be served, regulators can use 

them as preventative rather than 

reactionary measures. The Stop Notice 

must contain the reason for issue as well 

as other prescribed information. A right 

of appeal does exist. If the notice is 

compiled with, the EA must serve a 

Compliance Notice to confirm this. 

Failure to comply with a Stop Notice is a 

criminal offence. If the Stop Notice is 

successfully challenged or is withdrawn, 

the EA could be liable to pay the 

recipient compensation for any resultant 

losses. 

6. Enforcement Undertaking 

What is it? A written agreement 

between offender and the EA for the 

offender, within an agreed time limit, 

either to stop offending or prevent 

further offences or to make right any 

harm caused by its offending. This may 

also be accompanied by a promise to 

compensate anyone who has suffered 

loss as a result of the offender’s actions. 

When will it be used? An Enforcement 


environmental offences. The EA will only 

accept an enforcement undertaking 

where it has reasonable grounds to 

suspect the person has committed a 

relevant offence. In addition, the EA will 

only accept the undertaking if it is 

confident that the terms of the notice 

will be met. No doubt the EA would be 

more willing to accept undertakings 

that are offered proactively as soon as 

the offender is aware he/she has 

committed an offence. 

Additional information: Enforcement 

undertakings are seen as an acceptance 

of responsibility and a willingness to 

make amends. Once the EA is satisfied 

that the undertaking has been complied 

with, it can serve a compliance 

certificate. There is a right of appeal 

against any EA decision not to serve a 

compliance certificate. Once a regulator 

has accepted an enforcement 

undertaking, the offender cannot be 

served with any FMP, VMP, compliance 

notice or restoration notice in respect of 

that act or omission – unless the 

undertaking is not satisfied. Neither can 

the offender be prosecuted for the same 

offence, unless he/she fails to comply 

with the undertaking. 

Updating the enforcement policy 

The EA is still in the process of 

determining how it will use these new 

powers in practice. It is also updating its 

enforcement policy to reflect its new 

powers. According to the EA’s website, 

the EA aims to introduce civil sanctions 

for some, but not all, of the activities 

that it regulates from the end of 2010. 

It does not anticipate introducing the 

sanctions for the Environmental 

Permitting regime until 2011. 

If used effectively, these new sanctions 

could result in a streamlined regulation 

of environmental obligations which 

could benefit both the regulator and 

those they regulate. With rumours rife 

that the EA is facing substantial 

cutbacks, civil sanctions may even 

become the norm. Unfortunately, only 

time will tell how efficiently these 

powers are used and until then, 

businesses need to understand the 

options available when visited by and 

EA inspector. 


John Gollaglee leads Pannone’s HS&E team and 

advises corporations and individuals in 

investigations and prosecutions conducted by 

various public bodies. 

Phone 0161 909 4642 or email: 

john.gollaglee@pannone.co.uk 

Will you need a permit under the 

Environmental Permitting 

Regulations? – see page 20 


Environmental regulation 

Do I need a permit? 

BUSINESSES CONNECT WITH THE 

environment by either using natural 

resources for production processes and/or 

through emissions to land, air and water. 

Sound environmental management of 

processes is a core business issue that can 

help promote a company's products and 

services and improve its corporate 

standing. 

Permits for discharge to public foul sewer, 

groundwater and surface waters play a 

very important role in the environmental 

management of oil depots and petrol 

filling stations and for ensuring they 

comply with the most recent legislation. 

However, the application procedure and 

associated monitoring of permits are often 

regarded as complex and difficult to 

comprehend. It doesn’t help that the 

Regulations change often, including 

changes of name and responsibilities. 

Do I need a permit? 

Clients often ask us if they need a permit 

for their site. Any discharges into 

controlled waters (groundwater, rivers, 

streams, ditches and estuaries) and the 

public foul sewer system, need a permit. 

This would include discharges to controlled 

waters through a pipe, drains, an open 

channel, an infiltration system or an oil 

separator. Only if the water is clean – 

surface run-off, for example, from a roof, 

road, pathway or clean hard standing area 

– will you not need an environmental 

permit. In all other cases, you will need a 

permit from your local sewerage company 

or the Environment Agency. 

Discharges to public waste systems 

For discharges to the public foul sewer, the 

Water Industry Act 1991 states that any 

liquid produced as a result or as a part 

from any trade or business activity carried 

out on your trade premises qualifies as 

‘trade effluent’ and therefore requires 

consent from your local sewerage 

company. 

Discharges to controlled waters 

For discharges to controlled waters 

(groundwater and surface waters), you 

need permission from the Environment 

Agency. The latest legislation 

PETER MULDER, 

Environmental 

Monitoring Manager for 

OHES Environmental, 

discusses how the 

Environmental 

Permitting Regulations 

including the recent 

amendments could 

affect your business 

(Environmental permitting Regulations 

2010) was introduced in April 2010 and all 

consents and permits are now referred to 

as Environmental Permits. 

There are two different types of permits 

under EPR 2010: standard and bespoke, as 

well as the option to register for an 

exemption. As the name suggests, 

standard permits have fixed rules for very 

common activities. The application process 

is relatively simple and these permits often 

have lower fixed charges but are only 

available for a few industry types that can 

meet the requirements. 

Bespoke permits are written specifically for 

a business activity and tend to be more 

complex and expensive. Most of the 

petrochemical industry, including the 

production of biodiesel, will require 

bespoke permits. 

Finally, exemptions are for activities that 

don’t need a permit. Exemptions need to 

be registered and are generally free. 

Examples are some small effluent 

discharges (below 5 cubic metres per day 

for discharge to surface waters), as well as 

some farm and waste activities. 

Surface water drainage systems 

Only clean, uncontaminated surface water 

should go to the surface water drainage 

system and no trade effluent or 

contaminated water discharge should be 

made to this system. This includes vehicle 

washes and condensate from boiler 

systems. It is the site owner’s responsibility 

to ensure drains on his site are identified 

correctly and any trade effluent discharge 

directed to the foul sewer with the 

appropriate permit. Surface water run-off 

which may be contaminated with oil, i.e. 

from loading and unloading areas or areas 

where tankers are parked up, should drain 

through an oil separator. The Environment 

Agencies publish guidelines on the 

selection and installation of oil separators 

(PPG3). The subsequent discharge from the 

separator will require a permit. The permit 

is likely to incorporate quality conditions 

and it will be a criminal offence to breach 

these conditions. It is essential therefore 

that the oil separator is inspected, 

maintained, emptied (and refilled) on a 

regular basis and that the discharge from 

the separator is monitored to ensure 

compliance. Good housekeeping can 

reduce maintenance intervals and also 

minimise the risk of a compliance failure. 

Environmental Monitoring 

Permit holders are often encouraged to set 

up self-monitoring programmes. This can 

help them monitor the whole process 

rather than just the end of the pipe, 

assisting them with the early detection of 

problems and helping to pinpoint the 

cause. 

The EPR 2010 regulations have put a 

greater emphasis on encouraging 

operators to take responsibility. Greater 

emphasis is placed on management 

systems and using Environment Agency 

industry-specific guidance such as the ‘How 

to comply’ and Pollution Prevention 

Guidance. 

The bigger picture 

By introducing Operator Self Monitoring, 

the Environment Agency is moving to an 

auditing role and will spend more time 

and resource investigating water quality 

problems. This could mean that any 

discharges, permitted or unpermitted, that 

cause deterioration are now more likely to 

be found out. Because the application and 

compliance monitoring of environmental 

permits can be a complex procedure and, 

with so much at stake, many companies 

choose to bring in external consultants, 

such as the ex-regulatory specialists from 

OHES, to help ensure they get it right. 


www.ohes.co.uk 


OPEC at 50 

CELEBRATING ITS 50TH BIRTHDAY this 

year, OPEC (Organization of the 

Petroleum Exporting Countries) has 

enjoyed prices in a prevailing $70 80/bbl 

range through most of 2010. This is largely 

thanks to the decision taken at the end of 

2008 to cut production by 4.2 million bpd 

from the levels that had been pumped in 

September that year. 

OPEC Secretary General Abdullah Al‐Badri 

said in September that the decision was 

the best OPEC had ever taken. At the 

March meeting in Vienna, Saudi oil 

minister Ali Naimi described oil prices as 

‘beautiful’ and the word ‘cheating’ was 

barely pronounced, even though the 

group’s members were only around 50% 

compliant with their targeted production 

cuts at the time. 

As is customary at 50 th birthdays (OPEC was 

founded on September 14 1960 by a 

nucleus of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia 

and Venezuela), the usual plaudits from 

inside and outside the organisation rolled 

in, celebrating the successes of the 

producers’ group and its new‐found 

‘maturity’. Even BP sent a letter, despite 

the major’s woes in the US, where some 

people still want to sue OPEC for alleged 

‘cartel’ behaviour. Politeness is customary 

on such occasions, and particularly when 

the 50‐year old concerned is sitting on two 

thirds of the world’s known oil reserves 

and a large portion of its natural gas. 

But such anniversaries are often 

bitter‐sweet for the celebrants. 2010 has 

been a success for OPEC, but it has been at 

the expense of the group’s largest member 

slipping into second place in the league 

table of oil producers. Russia, which was 

expected to support OPEC’s bid to boost 

prices in December 2008, did nothing of 

the sort, and its output has soared to 

above 10‐million bpd, nearly 2‐million bpd 

more than Saudi Arabia, which has 

invested hundreds of billions of dollars in 

boosting capacity to what it claims is 

Challenges ahead 

12.5‐million bpd. OPEC had to swallow 

hard and bite its lip. Russia’s action was 

perceived as a betrayal, and was galling for 

the kingdom. OPEC’s Badri mentioned 

Russian production again and suggested 

the country will need to ‘slow down a 

little’ on production at some point. 

Despite the current stability, the future of 

the group is by no means assured. So long 

as prices are in the desired band as now 

(Nov Brent $78.95, Oct WTI $74.55 1400 

London) historical frictions between 

various member factions are likely to 

remain under the surface. 

2011 is likely to be more challenging, 

perhaps even for OPEC unity. The Secretary 

General, speaking on OPEC's 50 th 

anniversary, said the first half of next year 

would be difficult. “We are walking a very 

thin line," Badri told Reuters news agency 

in an interview. Of OPEC’s 11 members 

bound by quotas, only three have a 

compliance rate of above 70% (Kuwait, 

Saudi Arabia, UAE). Other members don’t 

even seem to feel the need to be seen to 

be trying, and Angola had effectively 

repudiated its quota within two years of 

joining the OPEC party. 

If prices gradually fall to $60/bbl next year, 

as some forecasters predict based on the 

fundamentals, including 20¬year high oil 

stocks in the US, OPEC may find it more 

difficult to tighten compliance than in Dec 

2008, when it was effectively threatened 

by a catastrophe. Whereas $30/bbl oil 

prices hurt all members, wonderfully 

concentrating minds at the time, the 

various members have different budgetary 

needs and unity may be 

more difficult to achieve 

were prices to fall, but 

less severely. No‐one 

knows at what price 

decisive action would be 

triggered. 

OPEC members also 

have different agendas 

in the case of high oil 

prices. When oil prices rose above $100/bbl 

in 2008, OPEC proved chronically unable to 

control the upside, as Saudi Arabia’s 

belated attempt to pump more oil proved. 

Although it is in a better position now, 

with some 6‐million bpd of spare capacity 

if needed, not all members will want to act 

if history repeats itself. Poorer members 

with smaller reserves may prefer to take 

the money and run. 

It may be that Saudi Arabia will act 

unilaterally in such circumstances, but that 

is politically a problem in itself. The 

kingdom fears that too high oil prices will 

speed up the development of alternatives 

to oil, and is likely to open the taps if 

prices start to sky‐rocket. While Saudi 

Arabia’s dominant role has undoubtedly 

made OPEC more effective as a group, this 

is not the same as saying that the group is 

internally cohesive. Politics have always 

been as important as commerce in OPEC’s 

internal 

Even without Saddam Hussein, the 

triangle of relationships between Iran, 

Saudi Arabia and Iraq is still as complex, 

and potentially unstable, as ever 

Article by 

KBC Energy 

Economics 

wrangles. 

The last 

couple of 

years have 

indeed 

seen a 

more 

pragmatic OPEC, more effective and more 

convincing, and Saudi Arabia’s oil minister 

Ali Naimi has had a lot to do with this. But 

while OPEC celebrates its 50 th birthday, the 

minister has recently celebrated his 75 th . 

Everyone has to retire some time, and we 

should remember that the new 

‘pragmatism’ has been the exception 

rather than the rule in a long‐term 

perspective. 

At some point, also, Iraq will come back 

into the spotlight. The one OPEC member 

that currently does not fall within the 

quota system is potentially the group’s 

second largest producer. Indeed, Iraq itself 

claims it will be able to pump 12‐million 

bpd in the long run, and pitched for a 

4‐million bpd quota at the spring meeting 

in Vienna. Even without Saddam Hussein, 

the triangle of relationships between Iran, 

Saudi Arabia and Iraq is still as complex, 

and potentially unstable, as ever. 


Peter Stewart +44 (0)1932 236334 

www.kbcat.com/Products-and- 

Services/Energy-Economics/ 



Safer water supplies call for bunded tanks 

BUILDING REGULATION changes 

designed to protect water supplies 

could be a boon to bunded tank 

manufacturers. 

From the beginning of October, changes 

to the Building Regulations Part J mean 

all new and replacement household oil 

tanks of between 2,500 and 3,500 litres 

have had to be bunded if they’re in one 

of the Environment Agency’s Source 

Protection Zones (SPZs). Around 2,000 

zones have been created to protect 

groundwater sources. Tanks between 90 

and 2,500 litres should be subject to a 

risk assessment by installers, but in 

practice that means fitting bunded 

tanks in almost all cases. 

It’s the most important change to 

domestic oil tank installation in almost a 

decade, according to Harlequin’s John 

Switzer. “Groundwater provides around 

35% of the drinking water supplied 

nationally, rising to as high as 80% of 

total drinking water supplies in some 

areas of southern England,” says John. 

“To ensure that drinking water remains 

safe to drink, it is imperative that such 

zones, which include wells, boreholes 

and springs, are actively managed and 

adequately protected.” 

He and other manufacturers have been 

quick off the mark to recognise the 

potential for the business. Kingspan 

Environmental’s sales director Tony 

Soper explains: “It is extremely 

important that all oil tank installations 

comply with the changes to the 

Building Regulations Part J to avoid 

polluting drinking water. Installing a 

Titan EcoSafe tank in an SPZ will protect 

the water source and provide peace of 

mind for the installer and property 

owner,” says Tony. John Switzer says: 

“As an environmentally responsible 

manufacturer, we warmly welcome the 

introduction of the revised regulations, 

which will serve to further minimise the 

impact of oil upon the environment.” 

“For oil storage tank installers and oil 

heating technicians, the easiest way to 

ensure compliance with secondary 

containment requirements is to install 

an integrally bunded tank, such as a 

Harlequin Advance, Basic or Polyrock 

bunded tank.” 

“Harlequin bunded tanks are available 

in a choice of capacities from 350 litres 

to over 10,000 litres. Irrespective of 

model, specification or capacity chosen, 

they comply fully with all applicable 

requirements and when installed by a 

Cameron makes fuelling plain ‘Salen’ for boat owners 

THE NEW OWNERS of a lochside jetty in 

the remote Scottish Highlands are 

providing sailing craft and commercial 

boats with the only fuelling facility for 

miles following the installation of 

equipment from Cameron Forecourt. 

The commercial fuelling specialists 

answered an SOS from Mark and Jan 

Drury when they took over Salen Jetty 

on Loch Sunart in Argyll. 

Due to the distance involved, Cameron 

worked from plans and photographs to 

design a bespoke fuelling facility to 

replace an old installation at the jetty, 

the only source of marine diesel on the 

25-mile long sea loch. 

Explains Jan: “We realised the existing 

equipment was no longer suitable 

because the tank wasn’t bunded, 

therefore posing a potential pollution 

hazard to the adjacent loch, and it was 

obvious that the old pump had seen far 

better days.” 

The new system features an above 

ground PPG compliant bunded tank, 

feeding a Hytek Alpha 70R Board of 

Trade approved pump. A pressure 

regulating valve is installed into the 

suction line to comply with Board Of 

Trade regulations and to provide further 

A yacht refuels at Salen Jetty using the Cameron Forecourt installation (inset) 

environmental protection against fuel 

leaks. 

“We moved up here from Yorkshire 

when we saw the jetty advertised on the 

internet,” adds Jan. “We felt it was our 

duty to maintain and improve a service 

to the commercial boats and pleasure 

craft using the loch. Word is getting 

round that we have a new, totally clean 

and reliable fuel installation via which 

we can provide a good service to the 

yachts and working boats.” 

Barry Jenner of Cameron Forecourt 

comments: “This is one of the more 

remote installations we have 

undertaken. We went into fine detail to 

ensure that a full turnkey system, down 

to the last nut and bolt, was delivered to 

site and successfully installed in one 

visit.” 


www.cameron-forecourt.co.uk 


competent person, can 

assist in achieving 

compliance with the 

revised regulations,” 

says John. “They’re 

manufactured in the 

UK in an ISO9001, 

ISO14001 and 

OHSAS18001, UKAS Bunded tanks, such as this 

accredited production Harlequin 1400BND/ENV tank, 

environment and are can help installers meet the 

engineered to exceed new building regulations 

the most demanding environmental requirements.” 

Installers can get more information on the new building 

regulations and how they affect installation of oil heating 

equipment and storage tanks from OFTEC, or by 

contacting their local building control office. 


www.oil-tanks.co.uk 

www.titanenv.com 

Can we do it? 

Yes, we Kan’to 

AFTER LAUNCHING THEIR latest iLEVEL series of 

automatic tank gauges, Kan’to Instruments reports a 

healthy stream of installations in the UK and Ireland. 

The system, explains the company’s Dimitri 

Papaioannou, provides a simple and effective way to 

manage wet stocks, as well as options for theft or leak 

SMS alarms for unauthorised product movements 

outside opening times. Tanks of any shape or size can 

be catered for. 

“We’ve also launched our latest entry-level PC-based 

tank gauging software, with options to display realtime 

and historical data from remote sites and a 

variety of management reports,” says Dimitri. 


www.kanto.co.uk 

The new iLEVEL tank gauge. This data screen shows 

temperature, water and product movements in a tank 

Downstream Winter 2010


No hole, 

no leak…simple! 

EVER DREAMT OF 

a day when 

heating oil tanks 

were made 

without holes at 

the bottom? Ever 

wondered why on 

these beautiful 

islands we do 

things differently to Europe? Ever 

wondered if we were really doing all we 

could to ensure the water we rely on so 

much is pollution-free? 

Atkinson Equipment claims to have 

answered the problems behind these 

questions with a new product called 

Tanktop, designed, developed and 

manufactured in the UK. Sales and 

marketing manager Peter Carter explains: 

“When a Tanktop is used, the tank can be 

supplied without a hole at the bottom. 

No hole means no possibility of it leaking 

and no leaks means no pollution of the 

watercourse.” 

In the past, top offtakes have been two 

pipe systems without an anti-siphon 

valve, but these are being outlawed 

because damaged return pipes can 

siphon the contents of a tank into the 

groundwater if left undiscovered. 

Tanktop is a single pipe system with a 

built-in anti-siphon valve. It also has a 

floating suction pipe to draw the cleanest 

fuel, a non-return valve, a filter and a 

push- fit hydraulic 10mm connection as 

standard. The system, which has become 

the valve of choice of many housing 

associations, can be used with pressure 

jet burners in conjunction with a 

Tigerloop de-aerator or oil lifter. 

“Over the years, many engineers have 

been wary of top offtake systems as they 

had air ingress problems caused by poor 

joints,” says Peter. “We’ve been working 

with engineers all over the country to 

solve these problems and have been 

supplying soft copper support tubes with 

all our products for a number of years 

now. Engineers can now fit a top offtake 

system with confidence.” 


www.atkinsonequipment.com 

Low-cost security device is 

latest from Centre Tank 

ELECTRONIC SECURITY for fuel has 

been beyond the pockets of many 

smaller businesses, but Centre Tank 

Services claims to have the solution. 

“When you ask a tank owner if they 

would like their fuel to be more secure, 

the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. But 

when you ask them if they need a fuel 

management system, the answer is very 

often ‘no’, simply because it can be too 

expensive for smaller users,” says 

Centre Tank Sales Director Joe Ferrara. 

The company has recently launched 

Access 85, a new low-cost security and 

control product for tanks. 

The system, designed by Piusi, prevents 

unauthorised access to fuel by 

allocating up to 85 users an electronic 

key similar to those used in fuel 

management systems – but at a claimed 

fraction of the price. Prices start at 

£160.67. 

Access 85 incorporates a run timer to 

prevent dry running. A low-level pump 

control uses a simple float switch to 

activate a warning light. The unit also 

incorporates an emergency stop button 

for problems during refueling, an input 

for a nozzle switch to allow automatic 

pump activation and the option to 

interface with Piusi’s Ocio tank level 

gauge. 

Centre Tank Services’ new Access 85 

“In particular, this product will give 

greater fuel security to farmers, hauliers 

and smaller industrial and commercial 

concerns,” says Joe. It can be used with 

new tanks, retro-fitted and can be used 

with other liquids, including Adblue. 


www.centretank.com 

Polytank moves into oil storage 

SOON TO CELEBRATE its 40th 

anniversary, the Lancashire-based 

Polytank Group has used its expertise 

in water storage to develop a new oil 

tank that comes pre-assembled and 

ready to use. 

The Polyoil 1200SB has a capacity of 

1,200 litres and is bunded to ensure 

safety and environmental protection. 

Polytank supplies the product 

complete and fully pre-assembled. 

Rotationally moulded from UVstabilised 

medium density 

polyethylene at the company’s 

Freckleton manufacturing complex, 

the tank measures just 1700mm by 

850mm by 1620mm and is 40kg 

lighter than some similar products, 

making it easier to install. 

When it began operations from its 

20-acre site in Freckleton near 

Preston in 1971, the family business 

specialised in making water storage 

tanks for homes and industry. 

Gary Fidler, Polytank’s managing 

director and son of the company 

founder, says: “Today Polytank is the 

most recognised brand for cold water 

storage in the UK. This recognition is 

based on quality and innovation and 

provides a solid base for the 

development of new products.” 

One of their newest developments 

has been Polyoil. Polytank plans to 

launch a 700 litre version of the 

Polyoil tank within the next few 

months, but before doing so the 

company is expanding its 

manufacturing capacity with a new 

£250,000 workshop and investing a 

similar amount in state-of-the-art 

rotational moulding machinery. 

“The new facilities will enable us to 

manufacture an extra 400 oil tanks a 

month,” says Gary Fidler. 


www.polytank.co.uk 


Ledbury warms to bio-diesel in 

changing world 

TANKS THAT keep your bio-diesel snug, safe storage for 

AdBlue®…and even a modular petrol station that can easily be 

moved. Ledbury Welding and Engineering is determined to 

keep ahead in the ever-changing fuel industry. With more than 

40 years’ experience in manufacturing bunded steel fuel 

storage tanks, the company’s sales director, Kevin Powell, says 

they’re committed to operating a green policy, developing 

products that protect the environment and for storing 

biodiesel. 

“Above-ground fuel tanks are recognised to be the 

environmental answer to storing fuel by eliminating the risks 

of groundwater pollution and contamination of the soil,” says 

Kevin. “We’ve designed a storage solution for biodiesel that 

adapts the industry recognised ‘derv pack’. The primary tank is 

insulated and there are integral thermostatically controlled 

heating packages enabling tanks to be built up to 100,000 

litres.” 

AdBlue® usage is on the increase, so Ledbury have also 

designed above-ground storage tanks for the product, with 

capacities ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 litres. AdBlue® is 

stored in either a stainless steel or an HDPE inner tank, which is 

then housed in a steel bund. It can also be specified as part of a 

multi-compartment unit, all housed within the same bund and 

thus centralising the fuel operation. 

Ledbury’s above-ground petrol storage tank, the Supervault, 

now comes in a capacity up to 110,000 litres. 

Never ones to rest on their laurels, the team is now perfecting 

a modular filling station with pay-at-pump capability for 

multiple products and with either four, six or eight dispensers. 

Now ready for production, the Ledbury Modular Filling Station 

(LMFS) is expected to have a short set-up time so that it can be 

used as either a temporary or permanent installation. 

“Supervault has two concentric steel skins and a lightweight 

concrete interstitial fill,” explains Jim Suff, Supervault business 


One of Ledbury’s large biodiesel tanks, with two dispensing 

pumps 

development manager, “and is the only tank in the world to 

attain four-hour fire certification and multi hazard 

accreditation. Moreover, it has twice the capacity at half the 

weight and with a rectangular format for smaller capacities.” 


www.lweltd.co.uk 



Fuel Proof launch new 

bunded diesel tank 

A 10,000 LITRE (2,200 GALLON) bunded diesel tank has 

been launched by Fuel Proof – a new design that the 

company claims makes for the toughest and most secure 

fuel storage tank on the market. 

New features include side protector bars, internal door 

hinges and, fitted as standard, the Fuel Proof overfill 

prevention device. This new system allows the delivery 

driver to test that the overfill device is working correctly 

before starting to fill. 

“The ongoing fuel price rises mean fuel is a growing target 

for criminals, so security has been a top priority for us in 

the design of the new tank,” says Andrew Hargreaves, a 

director of Fuel Proof. “As well as the all-steel 

construction, we’ve brought in some new features 

including an extra heavy-duty door bolt – and we’re 

confident this is the most secure tank on the market.” 


www.fuelproof.co.uk 

PetroTechnik buy-out 

FRANKLIN FUELING SYSTEMS, a US manufacturer and 

supplier of petroleum equipment, has bought 

PetroTechnik Ltd. 

PetroTechnik, which has annual sales of around £25m, 

supplies Universal Petro Pipe (UPP) and polyethylene 

containment, piping and tightness testing systems for 

underground storage and transfer of flammable liquids. 

The company also manufactures and distributes Cookson 

and Zinn above and below ground storage tanks and 

pressure vessels. 

“The acquisition of PetroTechnik and its subsidiaries in 

the UK, France, Brazil, India and China doubles Franklin 

Fueling’s global pipe and containment sales, doubles our 

revenue in Europe and increases our overall non-US sales 

by 50 per cent,” said Don Kenney, president of Franklin 

Fueling Systems. 


www.franklinfueling.com 

Tank design protects 

against fire 

WHEN A FIRE station chooses 

your fire protection product, 

you know you’re getting 

something right. 

Tuffa’s FireStop system 

creates a physical fire barrier 

and encloses the tank in a 

non-combustible shell. 

Designed to comply with fire 

safety regulations, the 

FireStop, according to the 

company’s managing 

director, Robert Shenton, is 

already being used in homes, 

airports, factories, care 

homes, churches, the 

Olympic village and even fire 

stations. 

“The FireStop is the only 

system on the market that 

fits integrally onto Tuffa’s 

plastic and steel tanks,” 

explains Robert. “It’s suitable 

for domestic, industrial and 

commercial applications with 

both 30 and 60 minute 

ratings available. It uses a 

simple method that requires 

no brickwork, barriers or 

firewalls so there are no 

delays in installing the tank 

and no added costs. It allows 

the tank to remain in the 

same position, which is 

preferable for most 

customers and installers.” 

Back in 2006, new fire safety 

laws (FSO) came into effect. 

The FSO applies to all nondomestic 

premises in England 

and Wales, including the 

common parts of blocks of 

flats and houses in multiple 

occupation. 

“Under the FSO, the 

responsible person must carry 

out a fire safety risk 

assessment and implement 

and maintain a fire 

management plan, but it is 

also a common-sense 

approach to undertake a fire 

safety risk assessment on all 

properties,” says Robert. 

“Ours is an innovative and 

patented system designed 

after much research and 

development. It’s far superior 

to building a brick wall at the 

side of a tank that, in any 

case, doesn’t offer adequate 

protection. The FireStop 

material used in the tank is 

installed in the new Terminal 

5 building at Heathrow 

Airport and other high 

profile situations.” 


www.tuffa.co.uk 

A FireStop tank installed at Hove Fire Station 


Keeping tabs on your fuel assets 

By Martyn Gent 

WITH FUEL PRICES resuming their 

relentless upward trend, ways of 

combating theft by ever more 

resourceful opportunists are back in 

focus. 

For thieves and fiddlers, large stocks of 

fuel are a prime target for making a 

quick buck. 

For companies who hold fuel stocks, the 

need to protect their assets is more 

pressing than ever and nowadays it 

takes more than a padlock and chain. 

Physical deterrents such as high fences, 

barriers, restricted access to fuelling 

areas and advanced surveillance using 

security cameras all play their part. 

Indeed, one Cameron Forecourt 

customer recently went for a ‘belt and 

braces’ approach and asked the 

company to install their storage inside 

an almost impregnable sea container! 

It’s at the point of storage and 

dispensing that more subtle security can 

be built in by using some of the latest 

developments in fuelling technology. 

Bunded or double-skinned tanks can 

make it that much harder for 

determined thieves. 

Likewise, mechanical anti-siphon valves, 

which detect unauthorised fuel flow in 

the pipework and stop it off by creating 

a vacuum are a useful addition. They 

have the advantage of not requiring any 


Storage inside a sea container 

electrical connections, allowing them to 

be used at remote installations. 

However, more sophisticated 

installations now incorporate advanced 

tank gauging – extremely accurate 

‘electronic dipsticks’ – that not only 

sense fuel being drawn, but also provide 

an accurate check on the amount of fuel 

delivered. And, if you know exactly how 

much goes into a tank, it makes it easier 

to detect deficiencies over a longer 

period, such as when an employee sees 

fit to award himself a regular ‘unofficial 

bonus’. 

In isolation, electronic gauging is 

extremely effective at keeping an eye on 

your stocks, providing leak detection 

when installed in underground tanks. 

Spill tray solves overfill problems 

PUTTING YOURSELF in the delivery 

driver’s shoes is a sure way of 

developing products that solve those 

practical, everyday problems, as 

Envirostore UK has found. 

“'We understand that when the driver is 

filling the tank, this could be in the 

middle of winter when light is not at its 

best, or the tank may be difficult to 

access,” says Envirostore’s UK sales 

manager Richard Marsh. “This is why we 

developed our unique inner spill tray, 

which dramatically reduces the problem 

if a driver overfills the tank.” 

The tray fits around the fill point and 

main inner lid area so that, if the driver 

did accidentally overfill, up to nine 

litres of fuel could be safely held 

in the tray for safe draining 

directly into the inner tank. 

Draining here rather than into the 

bund area avoids smell and an 

expensive call-out for an engineer 

to pump out the bund. 

On tanks fitted with bund alarms, 

the spilt fuel can also repeatedly 

trigger the alarm, which is 

annoying for the householder. 


www.envirostoreuk.com 

Linking to a computerised fuel 

management system can make it more 

effective still. 

For most vehicle operating businesses 

storing their own fuel, keeping a check 

on mileage returns, deliveries, vehicle 

and driver performance and fuel costs 

are the domain of a fuel management 

system. 

But a sophisticated system such as 

Cameron’s Eclipse or Nova web-based 

fuel management system can also be a 

round-the-clock security guard by 

recognising fuelling outside working 

hours, loss by leakage, use by 

unauthorised personnel and outright 

theft. 

It is possible to detect changes in volume 

and, if the pump hasn’t been used or is 

tampered with, this creates an alarm 

condition for either theft or leak. As the 

system is always live, it can send a phone 

message, text or email to nominated 

employees, giving an instant warning 

that something is amiss. 

Martyn Gent is Sales and Marketing 

Manager, for UK fuelling solutions 

specialist Cameron Forecourt 


www.cameron-forecourt.co.uk 

Under the lid… Envirostore’s inner 

spill tray

Life and near-death for oilman in round - Downstream Magazine

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