connections August 2008
Transcription
connections August 2008
THE WORLD OF OILTANKING VOL. 20/2 AUGUST 2008 connections Reaching for the Sky EDITORIAL ASIA Showing our true colors Big bunker bargain Oiltanking Odfjell Terminal Singapore (OOTS) and Matrix Marine Fuel Pte Ltd signed a long-term contract for the construction of fuel oil and gas oil tanks to provide chemical parcel tankers calling at OOTS’s jetties with bunkers. “Mirrors reflecting constantly changing patterns made of bits of colored glass” — that is what you see when you look through a kaleidoscope*. When you hold a mirror up to our business, you will discover that it has a number of similarities to this device that However, we have to be prepared for unexpected events that might come out of the blue. Therefore, it is good to know that whatever we have to face, our company has many dedicated employees with plenty of grey matter. I am tickled pink to be able to convey some of our colorful business to you in this new issue and hope you will like reading our red-hot news. When vessels in Singaporean waters need fuel, they normally re-fuel when anchored, which is a became one of the most popular optical toys of all time. Gust Spaepen Managing Director Oiltanking GmbH very time-consuming procedure. The signed contract between Oiltanking Odfjell Terminal Singapore (OOTS) and Matrix Marine Fuel, however, means that vessels calling at OOTS jetties can be supplied with fuel via a pipeline, concurrent with their cargo operations. To facilitate this, three tanks have been custom built for the purpose of storing and supplying bunker fuels for Matrix Marine. The two 6,000 cbm fuel oil tanks and the 1,000 cbm gas oil tank will be ready on August 1, 2008, while the official commencement of services is scheduled for one month later. OOTS will receive both products by ship and, on behalf of Matrix, load the products onto the vessels. Just like the tiny fragments of glass in a kaleidoscope, our daily business is continually shifting, transforming and being volatile. And let us not forget the colors: in our dealings with “black gold”, we experience both bright and black days. Sometimes we might see things through rose-colored spectacles before discovering, for example, that red tape can often halt the progress of a project for some time. We observe how enterprises turn out to be true blue chips or become white elephants. Luckily, up to now Oiltanking has enjoyed the rub of the green. * Kaleidoscope: was already known to the Greeks. Its name is derived from the Greek words kalos (beauty, eidos (form) and skopein (to look at). In 1816 it was re-invented by the Scot Sir David Brewster. • • • • • • • Black Gold = oil Black Day = unlucky day Red-hot news = latest news Red tape = bureaucracy Blue chip = first class Out of the blue = suddenly White elephant = a supposedly valuable possession whose cost exceeds its usefulness • To enjoy the rub of green = to have good luck • To have plenty of grey matter = to be intelligent • To be tickled pink = to be delighted • To see something through rose colored spectacles = to see something better/brighter than it actually is Highlights in this issue 5 GHENT New tank field party EUROPE Financial managers meeting 2 CONNECTIONS 12 8 CULTURAL EXPERIENCE From Hamburg to Sohar GOAN HOUSES Color under one roof 14 This is a first in Singapore and will further enhance OOTS’s role as an attractive and efficient “one-stop shop” for ships calling at the terminal. OOTS already provides a range of simultaneous services to vessels aimed at reducing the vessels’ time in port, such as supplying fresh water, ship tank preparation via nitrogen purging, bunker by barge, and transshipment (both board to board and via ship-shoreship lines). By the way, OOTS is also the only location approved by the Maritime & Simultaneity Supplying bunkers to vessels calling at Oiltanking Odfjell Terminal Singapore is a welcome addition to the company’s overall service package. Port Authority of Singapore to conduct board to board operations for chemicals. Besides saving time, this also carries various other advantages. The new project will help alleviate the port’s congestion and reduce the risk of oil pollution compared to the current bunkering operation while anchored. Matrix Marine supplies fuel oil to oceangoing vessels around the world. It already has a similar established position in Houston, Texas, with Oiltanking Houston. The signed contract gives Matrix Marine a much sought-after entry into the local bunker supply market. Matrix targets an annual volume of 144,000 MT for fuel oil and 12,000 MT for gas oil. In recognition of the favorable conditions mentioned Odfjell Shipping, one of the largest chemical tanker owners and operators, has signed a long-term contract with Matrix Marine to off-take bunkers at OOTS whenever any of its vessels call there and require fuel. The initial positive response from certain vessel owners, operators and customers is already illustrative enough of the win win-situation for all parties involved. CONNECTIONS 3 SOUTH AMERICA NEWS Successful pipeline commissioning in Argentina S outh A merica Honey sweetens business in Argentina Oiltanking completed construction management contract for Petroandina Resources In 2007, Oiltanking founded a new company in Argentina, Oiltanking Logística Argentina (OTLA), with the purpose of developing storage, marine, and transport facilities to serve the fuel, chemical, petrochemical, and other bulk liquids markets, and to offer management and logistic services to third parties. In May of that very same year, OTLA won an engineering, procurement and construction management contract from Petroandina Resources (PAR) for a new head pump station and crude oil pipeline that required building between the Mendoza and Neuquén provinces. PAR, a Canadian company, is the operator of a joint venture agreement between PAR and Repsol YPF for an oil field located in the southern part of the province of Mendoza. Production there has been steadily on the increase and currently accounts for 4,000 cubic meters of oil per day. The 81 km long, 12 inch diameter pipeline links the oil field in Mendoza with the receiving station in the province of Neuquén, which is a Repsol YPF facility and head of another pipeline that feeds the Lujan de Cuyo refinery. The crude oil can also be transferred to Oldelval’s head pump station where the ultimate destination is the Puerto Rosales Terminal, on the Atlantic coast, which is owned and operated by Oiltanking EBYTEM (OTE). The main construction contractor was Skanska, a multinational enterprise. OTLA contracted Arcan Engineering for the engineering review and field supervision support. The project was more than challenging from the very beginning in terms of finishing as quickly as possible in order to keep down operating costs, since trucking operations continued to transport all the crude oil from the field to its final destination. Oiltanking’s Project Manager was Grover Leiva, Claudio Gonzalez was appointed Assistant Project Manager and Mariano Astobiza completed the team as the project engineer. Holger Donath, Director of OTLA, acted as Project Sponsor where he actively participated 4 CONNECTIONS in contract negotiations and provided advice to OTLA’s team. Seeing that time is of the essence in most projects, work was conducted seven days a week during all the start-up and construction phases, thus posing great demands on the project team members. It is worth noting that the project was completed without lost time accidents for both of the parties involved during the construction, thanks to the efficient and safe working conditions implemented by the different companies. Moreover, the stakeholders had to overcome a very challenging hurdle, namely the crossing of the Río Colorado river. Initially the project called for a directional drilling crossing, however further detailed studies proved that it was technically impossible to implement this solution due to the non-favorable characteristics of the river bed. Therefore, the crossing was carried out by utilizing an existing pipe bridge owned by Repsol YPF, which had to be repaired and upgraded to allow for the additional pipeline. The first crude oil was successfully delivered in Neuquén on July 16, 2008. Needless to say the project team was very enthusiastic about this event after having put in a good solid year of hard work. Congratulations to both the team and OTLA for yet another triumphant development in Argentina! Long distance connection The 81 km long pipeline links the oil field with the receiving station. What has honey got to do with Oiltanking? You could say that Oiltankers are as busy as bees … but actually the fact of the matter is that Oiltankers at the Ebytem terminal in Brandsen, Argentina, had honey delivered to them. How did this come about? Only about nine hectares of the land that was bought to build the terminal Oiltanking Ebytem S.A. are used. The rest, approximately 77 hectares, is rented out to a person who keeps cows as a means of payment rather than money. He offered two kilos per beehive, which meant sweet news for the terminal: a delivery of 80 kilos of honey per year! However, at first the beekeeper had to see if the bees produce honey on that piece of land. Sometimes bees reject places! Luckily, the bees accepted their new apiary for grazing. Last year, Oiltanking Ebytem was approached by a beekeeper, who asked if he could use a small part of the land for his business. After analyzing all possible issues and exploring every possible scenario associated with having beehives fairly close to the terminal, Oiltanking Ebytem had no objections and gave the green light. In return for the use of the land to keep bees, the apiarist suggested honey and recently Oiltankers welcomed the delivery of the first batch of smooth and perfect honey. Now we know what all the buzz is about! What on earth are they going to do with so much honey? It goes without saying that not only will they delight in it for their very own consumption but the honey will also be put to good use as corporate presents. What a sweet idea to smack your lips over! EUROPE Steady growth at Oiltanking Ghent On 3 July 2008, Oiltanking Ghent N.V. had no shortage of good reasons to make a public announcement. In a joint initiative by Oiltanking Ghent and the Port of Ghent the national and local press were informed about the opening of a new tank field with four tanks each containing 18,750 cbm. At the same time, the starting signal was given for the construction of four additional tanks with a capacity of respectively 55,000 cbm. With this expansion the total storage capacity will reach 1,000,000 cbm in 2009 and it is no great wonder that Sas van Rouveroij, President of Ghent Port Company, emphasized the importance of Oiltanking Ghent for the port. After the press conference, customers, contractors and local authorities were invited to a cocktail and dinner party at the charming estate of Kasteel van Wippelgem. To the rousing rhythm of a Brazilian band playing on real drums, Huib Jansen, Managing Director Oiltanking Ghent, and Sas van Rouveroij, put the finishing touches to the IN STYLE Huib Jansen (right) and Sas van Rouveroij during the “signing ceremony”. Oiltanking logo on a virtual tank shell with true zest. Undoubtedly the forthcoming project will enable them to continue writing many more success stories. CONNECTIONS 5 PORTRAIT PORTRAIT We Can, We Care … in “logistics” The “logistics” department at the Amsterdam terminal also includes “customer services” or “sales”. Our colleagues elsewhere may call it differently but “sales” and “customer services” are combined here to improve contact with the clients. Such an organization means that all functions that require frequent interaction with customers are aware of all of their clients’ activities. Five colleagues work in this department: Boris Oudenbroek and Roderick de Rooij in “sales and customer services”, Peter van Leuven and Caja Wemmers in “customer services” and Anthony Verpoorten in “customs related activities”. How does a typical day look like? The A Team (from left) Caja Wemmers, Roderick de Rooij, Boris Oudenbroek and Peter van Leuven keep track of tasks and stay cool even in tough situations. 6 CONNECTIONS There is a routine, but it is never the same! Sounds strange, doesn’t it? But the routine is the planning, and the planning is never the same due to different loading/discharge orders, vessels, products, weather conditions etc. “Every moment of the day we have to work on our strategy as to how to meet our clients’ needs and at the same time decide how to optimize the infrastructure and jetties of the terminal” explains Boris Oudenbroek, Sales Manager. In other words — to make all parties involved happy. No easy undertaking in general and knowing that the terminal in Amsterdam is the second largest of Oiltanking’s 62 terminals worldwide makes it even tougher. On a yearly basis, about 720 vessels and over 3,600 barges are Within Oiltanking terminals there are various departments and each of them is crucial for a smooth and satisfactory work process. Let’s have a closer look at what happens in “logistics” — at the Oiltanking terminal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. handled. In 2007 the throughput was over 11,000,000 Mt (only incoming products), while manipulations are over 6,000 a year. “On a very busy day when a queue is building up outside the locks and everyone wants their vessels to come at the same time, our department has to make choices and balance it in such a way that nobody is put at a disadvantage.” Needless to say, to do the job as optimally as possible you need a cool head. A “normal” working week comprises between 45 to 50 hours – but when is a week “normal”? Colleagues with on-call duties easily soar to 60 hours and more. Not counting all the sleepless nights … For the documentation, as well as for a smooth process, our colleagues from “customer services” work with the Oiltanking Stock Accounting System (OSAS) developed in-house. This software supports order processing and stock accounting for the thousands of orders that have to be processed every year. In order to plan and optimize the terminal, “customer services” works most actively together with the department “operations”. The sales department works closely with “Finance”, as well as the Managing Director, Coen Huebner. When we asked Boris Oudenbroek what he thinks is the most essential criteria for working in his department, he underlines that the will to work hard and being omnipresent is very important. Fluency in both spoken and written Dutch and English is a must Operational knowledge helps to give advise to clients in the best possible way. As for the “sales” part, a qualification from a business school is of course desirable but not essential. And last but not least, he mischievously adds that “a good sense of humor!” can move mountains. CONNECTIONS 7 C O L O R my world C O L O R my world Holi-day The Festival of Colors called Holi is a popular and meaningful Hindu spring festival where people throw colors at each other. Color under one roof Spectacles of color Colonial houses in Goa were colorfully painted, thus becoming a sign of individuality and wealth. Color is not only an expression of personal preferences; it also plays an important role in the architectural history of colonial homes in Goa, India. Dramatic and vibrant colors used in abundance with a tinge of white are a typical combination adorning colonial homes in Goa. The color concept dates back to the Portuguese who colonized Goa in 1510 and stayed for more than 400 years. Upon their arrival, Goan houses were either built in local red stone or in red mud. Only temples and mansions used black soapstone and were whitewashed. As among Christians white was (and still is) associated with purity and people seemed to be impressed by stately white buildings, moreover the new rulers had their own ideas to draw more believers into their churches. They ordered the compulsory annual painting of houses, after the monsoon had passed, and introduced painting regulations: only churches and chapels enjoyed the privilege of being painted completely white. For private houses, white could only used for highlighting architectural details like quoins and cornices, and window edges and balustrades to contrast with the walls. As a result, houses began to develop their own individuality 8 CONNECTIONS and color became a tool to discern ownership and creativity. The range of colors was derived from natural pigments — yellow ochre from slaked and burnt lime; blue from indigo; red from bruised clay; later on shades such as green, pink, lavender could be added due to new techniques. With a color wash, the house looked “dressed” and therefore displayed the economic well being of the family that lived in it. Not only Christians but also Goan Hindus have respected the color practice over the years. Therefore an interesting and aesthetically pleasing trend developed. With the change in regime and modernization along with globalization, values have changed over the past few years, too. The indication of wealth is not a criterion anymore. Houses are still being painted after the rains to give them a fresh look, but the natural colors of the past have been replaced by synthetic ones in view of the leaps and bounds that have been made in painting technology. Nevertheless, the colors are still vibrant and a captivating medium that reflects individuality. They remain typical of Goa. Gay day Holi, a vibrant Hindu festival, is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm. The Hindu festival Holi may carry various different names and people might follow varying traditions, but what makes this celebration so unique is its spirit, which remains the same wherever it is celebrated. Under the guise of colors, people seem to merge into one big fraternity as it is solemnized by people regardless of caste, creed, color, sex or age. Worldwide, Holi has the theme of universal brotherhood. Holi starts the day after the full moon in the month of March according to the Hindu calendar and lasts two days. This year, this festivity of the rejuvenation of nature, renewed hope of happiness and peaceful existence was celebrated on March 22. On the first day, people gather to light bonfires, which signifies the destruction of evil — the burning of “Kolika” — a mythological character. On the following day, people meet on the streets and playfully drench each other with colored water and brightly pigmented powders are applied to their faces. The vibrant use of colors symbolizes the advent of a radient and prosperous spring season. Originally, only natural and herbal colors were used. Nowadays, however, darker and longer-lasting tints are favored so synthetic dyes are also included. The colors overcome the barriers of language and convey true feelings, but also a message: YELLOW stands for optimism and is also regarded as an auspicious color. It denotes the awakening of new blossoms and is associated with Mother Earth. RED denotes festivity, energy and love. GREEN means compassion, purity and understanding, and is a token of prosperity. BLUE expresses new beginnings, trust and peace. After a fun-filled, exciting and vivacious day coupled with dancing to the rhythmic beats of the drums and singing Holi songs, the evenings are spent sober-minded. People meet friends and relatives, exchanging sweets and festive greetings. CONNECTIONS 9 LEISURE LEISURE Hurray, hurray it is a happy holiday! 1 6 7 Not only are Oiltankers very flexible but they are also willing to face new challenges. 2 8 3 4 9 5 10 CONNECTIONS Spot our colleagues 1) Bullish mood Rashmi Surve, Indian Oiltanking, in front of the Hindu God Nandi, in Mysore, India. 2) Hairy tale Karin Meeussen, Oiltanking GmbH, eye to eye with a leopard in Gomo, South Africa. 3) On the road Kay Schlette, Oiltanking GmbH, viewing a mosque in Samarkand ind Skahr-i-Zindan, Uzbekistan. 4) World heritage Rohit Kalia, Indian Oiltanking, exploring the Elephanta caves, in Mumbai, India. 5) Earthly beauty Annette De Bruyn, Oiltanking Stolthaven Antwerp, and her husband admiring the Gullfoos Waterfalls, Iceland. 6) In disguise Pele Wendt, Oiltanking Singapore, during the Carnival of Venice, Italy. 7) Malaysian meeting Zakharria, Rozzani, Ibrahim Banding, M Ismail, Ajet and Latiff — colleagues from Oiltanking Singapore, went together with their families to Port Dickson. 8) Husky on the right track Inke Burmeister, Oiltanking GmbH, visited a husky farm in Harriniva, Finland. 9) Nature wonder Susanne Kroeger (left), Oiltanking GmbH, in Rose Valley, a large area in the Göreme National Park in the Nevsehir Province of Cappadocia, Turkey. CONNECTIONS 11 EUROPE EUROPE Spring meeting 2008 WebOffice 2.0. — From May 6–7 2008, Oiltankers from all over the world congregated once again for the annual Oiltanking spring meeting. This time, it took them to a beautiful area just outside the German capital of Berlin. Schwielowsee in the vicinity of Potsdam proved to be an ideal venue for the two-day meeting. Besides updates on new projects in the ever-growing Oiltanking world, one of the main focuses of this year’s spring meeting was once again HSSE, especially work safety. Although Oiltanking has been doing quite well in this respect, the efforts to improve the performance and minimize accidents and incidents will continue to be a top priority. opportunity for Oiltankers from four continents to get to know each other and rekindle old friendships. Everybody had the occasion to enjoy the sights during a walking tour around Potsdam, including the former residence of the Prussian kings, and learn something about its history. Finally, all the participants gathered for a delicious barbecue in the delightful garden of a historic café in the Dutch quarter of the town. Here, discussions and talks were resumed and continued well into the night. All in all, the 2008 spring Furthermore, the participants were briefed on future market trends on the increasingly volatile international oil markets. A feedback session on the “weboffice 2.0” roll-out, Oiltanking’s new-look knowledge-sharing tool, rounded off this year’s spring meeting with valuable input from the users. As well as serving as a platform for professional updates, the spring meeting was once again highly entertaining and a good meeting once again provided a great opening to intensify the unique Oiltanking team spirit and exchange views and ideas for the future of the company. Colleagues go beyond words. Financial managers meeting Put in the picture The female colleagues showed off their knowledge and their new Oiltanking shawls. On May 19, 2008, twenty-four colleagues from finance departments all over the world convened in Berlin, Germany, for three days for the annual Financial Managers Meeting. This year, two main issues were on the agenda. One of them was a discussion on how to ensure uniform reporting among profit centers. The other was an individual training session on OutlookSoft for each financial manager. The sessions were 12 CONNECTIONS embedded in a series of presentations covering the latest developments in the group. During the meeting, the colleagues not only had the possibility to talk shop but also see old faces and get to know new ones. Excursions such as a city tour through Berlin, a relaxing boat trip on the river Spree and a visit to the historical Berliner Reichstag topped off the successful event. knowledge is never enough WebOffice 2.0., a tool for administration and knowledge-sharing, seems to have been the latest craze at Oiltanking for the last half a year. But what does it actually mean and how does it help Oiltanking as a company? In today’s information-driven society, the term knowledge-sharing is omnipresent and has become an indispensable element of our everyday lives. In an organization • Organized filing provides for a structured allocation and, thus, document search • Access options allow the user to limit access to his/her documents as decentralized and geographically dispersed as Oiltanking, know-how represents a very volatile asset that is not always available when it is needed. It is important for an organization’s competitiveness to exchange and preserve its experiences for the following reasons: • Staff turnover. Often when a colleague leaves the company or is moved to another location, knowledge walks out of the door with him/her. • “We don’t always know what we know”. It is vital that expertise learnt and applied in one part of the organization is communicated to another, where it can be used to achieve common objectives. • Accelerating change. In an environment of constant and accelerating change, information has to be updated in order to prevent the proficiency base from eroding. • • • In the case of Oiltanking, the LotusNotes based WebOffice was the answer to the knowledge-sharing issue. The WebOffice we are speaking of today (WO2) is the second generation of an application that was first introduced in 2003 as a tool for the administration of addresses and correspondence. It is now known as WebOffice 1. In spite of its vast potential, it had a number of flaws such as low operational speed, unorganized structure and poor usability. To overcome these hurdles and thus reinforce the prospects of such a knowledge-sharing tool, WO2 has been introduced. Unlike its predecessor, WO2 has been fully developed and built internally. This means that it is designed to meet the needs of the company’s industry and, more importantly, can be adjusted to satisfy the requirements of its users. WO2 includes the following features and advantages: • WO2 is remarkably faster than WO1 • Documents can be accessed off-line by creating local replicas Interlinking of documents offers the possibility to connect information of a different nature under several documents simultaneously Enhanced correspondence features allow the exchange of correspondence within WebOffice in a useful, easy and fun way An inquiries & contacts database, when fully utilized, will replace the highlights feature and give a detailed and up todate overview of the organization’s activities worldwide. It took a little over a year for the WebOffice team to design and build the application. Prior to the rollout, a trial database had been set up where all the features could be tested at first hand. The official rollout of WO2 commenced on March 13 , 2008 with the Singapore terminal and is fast approaching the finish line with only Latin America waiting its turn in August 2008. In the process of the rollout, a “train the trainer” method has been applied. This means that a small group of WO2 specialists travel to each profit center to train selected persons, now commonly known by the fancy title of “super-user”. The choice of super-users was made based on their individual capabilities and the nature of their daily work in the organization. Their tasks include training their colleagues in a profit-centre, providing basic technical assistance and supervising the implementation and use of WO2. Today, in spite of some initial skepticism, the WebOffice team is pleased to see the increasing support for WO2 worldwide. It is a pleasure to experience the transformation in the people’s mindset from “we have to use it” to “we want to use it”. With WO2, knowledge-sharing is no longer a mere catchword but an efficient reality. CONNECTIONS 13 C U LT U R E E X P E R I E N C E C U LT U R E E X P E R I E N C E A CAMEL on its merry way to one of the many camel races which take place from October to April. From Hamburg to Sohar After two and a half years working for Oiltanking GmbH in Hamburg, Germany, Joerg Neetzke was offered a job at Oiltanking Odfjell Terminals in Sohar, Sultanate of Oman. Less than a seven-hour flight away from Hamburg, the country is a complete new experience in terms of culture, climate and geography. Before flying to Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, for the first time I had to study the world map in order to find out which part of the world I was heading to. I realized that the Sultanate of Oman is located in southwest Asia, on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula — thus being the most eastern Arabian country. From the airport it would be a two-hour drive to Sohar, my final destination and new home for the next two years. Moreover, I only had had little to no experience of the Arabic culture, language, climate and traditions up to then. Therefore, I tried to read up on the country as much as possible and asked colleagues who had moved to Oman earlier about their experiences of living there. 14 CONNECTIONS When I got off the plane in Muscat in the middle of the night at the end of July 2007, it was not the heat but the humidity, which instantly turned my body into a sponge. Before arriving, I had known it would be hot but I never expected it to be that hot, especially at night, and was somewhat unprepared for the humidity. At first, I calmed down by telling myself that this must be an exception since I could not imagine that someone could actually endure such unbearable conditions for a longer period of time. Even though people had warned me, I did not believe it until I experienced it personally. To my horror, I was forced to acknowledge that from May to the end of September the climate conditions would not change. Quite the contrary, in fact: August would be even hotter and more humid! In Where the rocks jut out of the sea. summer, the temperatures often reach 50 degrees Celsius with very high humidity. The day after my arrival, I had my first trip by car from Muscat to Sohar. I was surprised by the quality of the road — with two lanes in each direction that are in much better condition than many of our German autobahns — and a road system connecting all major cities and villages in the mountains. The main road from Muscat to Sohar runs parallel to the northeast coastline and then on through the mountains towards the northwest and eventually Dubai. All major motorways in Oman are illuminated throughout the night, a fact that I found very convenient when driving late in the evening. It really makes sense, too, considering that the dark hours are much longer here than in Europe. Even during the summer time, the sun sets shortly after 7 p.m. Traveling from Muscat to Sohar by car takes two hours with modest traffic. You still need to get used to the roundabouts, which appear every 10 to 20 km (except in Muscat itself) to stop people from speeding. Once you are used to the roundabouts and passing goats or wild donkeys that do not care about modern transport, driving long distances becomes relaxing and is a stark contrast to the crowded and hectic traffic in Germany. But what really made driving a treat were the low fuel prices in comparison to Europe. Just imagine: one liter of “Super” costs not more than 0.12 Omani Rial, which is less than € 0.25 cents! I had the impression that moving from Hamburg to Sohar is like moving to a small village. Sohar has got only two hotels, two supermarkets — a popular meeting place for the Indian and Pakistani guest workers — and the city center at the market (souk) with dozens of small shops. During the day time, the city always looks deserted and only during the evening hours after the hot air cools off a bit does life return The Grand Mosque in Muscat and in the background the mountain range. to the streets. At the beginning I thought it would be hard staying here since I am used to a large variety of entertainment and cultural events in Hamburg. Meanwhile, I have to admit that I rather enjoy the calm neighborhood and the relaxed way of life. And if I feel like some entertainment, Sohar has a big advantage: it is located in the middle of the country. You are only a two-hour drive from Muscat or, in the opposite direction, Dubai or Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Only recently, Sohar itself started to develop due to the industrial area around the harbor and a special development zone for further industrial production settlements. Besides the booming economy, it seems that everything is flourishing in Oman: a lot of people here still have some small farms or plantations and, of course, there is also the prospering University and College of Sohar. Incidentally, the Sultan provides free education and a piece of land for every local Omani. As an Arabic country, most of the inhabitants of Oman are Muslims and traditions are treasured. The industrial development, of course, means new and different influences PORTRAIT Jörg Neetzke joined Oiltanking GmbH in April 2006 and worked in the Central Engineering Department as Engineering Manager in Hamburg, Germany. Since the end of August 2007, he has been working as a project manager for the newly built Terminal Facilities of Oiltanking Odfjell LLC in Sohar, Sultanate of Oman. CONNECTIONS 15 C U LT U R E E X P E R I E N C E and also a huge amount of foreign laborers coming into the country. Approximately 30 percent of them reside here already. I was impressed by how the Omani inhabitants deal with this situation. They are very open-minded and respect other cultures as long as one respects their traditions, too. They are always friendly, greet you and have a small chat with you wherever you meet them, be it in the queue at the supermarket, bank or any other places. And they are very hospitable. It happened more than once that I was invited over for dinner or tea by an Omani. Once in a while, my neighbor would show up and offer me some fresh fruit from his garden. However, it was not only the cheap fuel prices that flabbergasted me or the amazing friendliness of the Omanis or the heat and the humidity that took my breath away, but also the country’s beautiful nature and geography. It shares its borders with the United Arab Emirates in the northwest, Saudi Arabia in the west and Yemen in the southwest. The Arabian Sea is situated to the south and east of the country, with the Gulf of Oman to the northeast. Central Oman is dominated by a huge desert. To the north lies the mountain range of Jebel Akhdar, separating the desert from the fruitful area along the coast-line. The mountain range stretches from the north to the northwest and meets the sea around the area of Muscat/Mutrah. Just imagine that those mountains were formed approx. 150 million years ago when the oceanic crust was pushed up, which was a very rare if not unique process. Traveling through the mountains and driving, walking or climbing actually on a “seabed” or visiting a nearby Wadi with its quietness, breathtaking beauty and wildlife is indeed impressive. During winter-time when the temperature is a moderate 15 to 25 degrees Celsius, a lot of Wadis have sweet water basins that are inviting for picnics or even wild camping. I have seen the darkest nights and the brightest stars there. ASIA In the area of Muscat/Mutrah, you can see the mountains “disappear” into the Arabian Sea, towering high above the shore-line. Traveling by boat along this coastline is simply stunning. You will always find small bays with romantic beaches between the rock formations — most of them only accessible by boat. Along the southeast coast, the desert extends to the coast. Oman’s coast stretches about 2000 km along the Arabian Sea. Needless to say, I just love the landscape of Oman, which is very attractive in many aspects and offers a variety of adventures, e.g. diving, sailing, fishing and going for trips in the desert and mountains. The highest mountain actually is more than 3000 m and is the place where you can find some cooler temperatures during the hot summer months. Oman offers many attractions in addition to its natural beauty. There are a lot of historical monuments such as old forts along the coast and in the mountains, not to mention the Grand Mosque in Muscat. However, it is a country with moderate tourism. In contrast to the other Gulf Countries, Oman is trying to harmonize each new building with the landscape. You will not find any skyscrapers here! Oman is opening up quite fast to the Western world whilst thankfully preserving its culture and cherishing its nature. I admire many aspects of the country, especially the people. To be honest, the differences in both culture and climate seem huge for someone moving from Hamburg to Sohar. I had to get used to a lot of new and exotic things, while the high temperatures during the summer months were probably the hardest to cope with. However, the opportunity to face new vocational challenges, get to know a new culture, experience new customs and find new friends from all over the world is definitely worth every droplet of sweat! High Up In the mountains just one hour drive from Sohar. The highway Heading For Muscat with one of the countless roundabouts. Many of them boast many decorative monuments. 16 CONNECTIONS Black rain On June 12, 2008, “black rain” poured down on the Oiltanking terminal in Daya Bay, China. A “black day” for our colleagues and the facility? On June 6, the Hong Kong Observatory Station issued a “black rain” warning for the city. The next day, many parts of Hong Kong were inundated with 1.5 meters of floodwater and the highway to the International Airport was closed for a day. But that was Hong Kong and the Oiltanking terminal was well out of harm’s way approximately 90 km north-east of the city, or so Yeong Kwek Leong, General Manager Oiltanking Daya Bay (OTDB), thought. However, he was gravely mistaken … During the night of June 12, 2008, heavy rain started falling again — this time over Daya Bay. The downpour continued throughout the following day and although the terminal itself was not badly affected by the rain, there were signs of flooding on the main road leading into the petrochemical park. At 3.30 pm, the management of OTDB asked colleagues to stop work earlier than usual and set off for home. In hindsight, it turned out to be a very wise decision! By 5.30 pm, it was already impossible to pass through the main streets of Autou and Huiyang, both towns near the terminal. The rainwater overflowed from the rivers and soon reached a depth of two meters in the main street of Autou. All sundry shops and businesses on the ground floor were completely swamped and the muddy torrent destroyed everything in its path. Cars were also submerged and badly damaged. By 6.00 pm, nobody could enter the family resort Palm Island as the connecting bridge to the resort was submerged under one meter of water. Normally, the river flows some 10 meters below the bridge! Families living on the resort were marooned while others had to find shelter and camped out in hotels for the night. Luckily the heavy rainfall eased off the next day. It was several days before the normal power and utility supplies could be fully restored. The day of the “black rain” certainly was not a rosy day for our colleagues in Daya Bay but they dealt with the situation brilliantly and fortunately the day was neither black for them nor the terminal. Did you know? The rain season in Hong Kong, China, is normally between April and September. The rain can be particularly heavy and persistent during May and June. The rainstorm warnings “amber”, “red” and “black” are a set of signals which are used in Hong Kong to alert the public to the risk of heavy rain, which is likely to cause major disruptions due to traffic congestion and floods. They also act as an early warning system for the emergency services to be in a position to deal with the situation swiftly. The Hong Kong Observatory is responsible for launching these signals, which are broadcast over the radio and on television. The signals mean: Amber: Heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong in excess of 30 millimeters per hour, and is likely to continue. Red: Heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong in excess of 50 millimeters in an hour, and is likely to continue. Black: Very heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong in excess of 70 millimeters in an hour, and is likely to continue. When the black signal is issued, Hong Kong grinds to a complete standstill. Schools will not dismiss students unless there is a visible risk in staying at school, and everyone is advised to seek shelter immediately. Buses and other forms of public transport, however, may be suspended later to allow commuters to go home, depending on the demand and the level of risk along the route. MTR (Mass Rapid Transit) services are limited or suspended due to the risk of flooding. CONNECTIONS 17 OT SPORTIVE OT SPORTIVE © Alchemie/pixelio for the sky! It was a sunny day in March in Lobos, a small town outside the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The adrenaline level was sky high, at least for one of the two friends, who was being kitted out for a parachute jump. The other person, a seasoned parachutist with almost 15 years of jumping experience, was also excited because of what it meant to be able to jump together. Alvin Anaya, project coordinator, active in the Buenos Aires office and former member of the national Bolivian skydiving team, had been trying to convince his Oiltanking colleagues in the office to take the adrenaline rush, the freedom of freefalling, and the ultimate relaxed state of mind … As the club had been informed of their visit, everything happened quickly upon their arrival: the parachutes were ready, the aircraft’s engine was roaring and Holger put on his Oiltanking shirt. There was no time for second thoughts. This was it! It took about 20 minutes for the small plane to reach the agreed altitude. When the pilot gave the signal, the side door was opened and suddenly it all became up the challenge for ages. For him, the thrill lay in being able to share his passion for this sport with someone else. Holger Donath, Managing Director of Oiltanking in Argentina, an outdoor sports enthusiast in general, liked the idea from the beginning, but needed some time to take the plunge. Mid-morning, the Oiltanking colleagues and a friend left the bustle of the city for the countryside. It was a perfect day, since there was barely a cloud in the sky. Although the summer was coming to an end, the weather was still warm. During the journey to the skydiving club, Alvin explained why he loved the sport so much. The beauty of the great outdoors, very noisy … Alvin walked down a footrail on the wing until he reached a safe position away from the main door. Holger and the instructor prepared themselves. One, two, three … and out!! All three plus a camera-man jumped simultaneously. At first, it was as if someone had stopped time … however the feeling of air literally cushioning the body immediately took over and the adrenaline was at its peak. The tiny fields and houses down below quickly became larger, the bodies were embraced by the roaring sound of the airflow, and it felt like nothing Holger had ever felt before. The instructor gave another signal, Alvin drifted away and the parachutes were opened. It all fell 18 CONNECTIONS © Alchemie/pixelio Reaching A safe bet © Telemarco/pixelio Two Oiltanking colleagues take team bonding 10,000 feet higher … In June 2008, not only did the weather appeal to the Oiltankers, but also the European Football Championship, for which they had placed bets. Which football team wins in a league system? There is a relatively simple way of determining this, and there is the method the organizers of the European Football Championship exercise. In fact, their regulations are so complicated that Kay Schlette, Oiltanking GmbH, felt compelled to program the rules in an Excel spreadsheet, as he could not find any fit spreadsheets on the Internet. Based on this Excel file, he then created a soccer betting game for his colleagues and managed to win over 48 of them to participate and that was back in 2004. This all proved to be a ball for various reasons but well worth mentioning has to be his very own designed soccer website including some videos which feature the friendly rivalry between his Dutch and German teammates. When Kay indicated to Gust Spaepen, Football (beting) expert Johannes Moerlein, Tank Terminal Manager Oiltanking Gera, training a special young talent, his grandson Oskar. Taking the plunge Holger Donath (right) and Alvin Anaya, OT Ebytem, had an unforgettable adventure. Managing Director Oiltanking GmbH, his intention to organize a fresh betting round for the European Football Championship 2008, he jumped at the chance. No points for guessing who won the last bet in 2004 and the bottle of champagne? silent and suddenly the plunge became more like a sightseeing tour. Gradually, the main building of the club drew closer and closer, until everyone landed. “Wasn’t it great?” asked Alvin. “It was more than great, it was incredible! Just like you had told me”, replied Holger. The two friends hugged. Both knew that it had been a day like no other. And then it was high time for a cold beer ... Three weeks before the tournament kicked off, Kay took the first steps to update the Excel spreadsheets and the website. He received eager support from his fellow workers Steffi Braun and Keith Bezzina, Oiltanking GmbH, as well as Antoine Debono, Oiltanking Malta. In addition, the IT department in Hamburg provided valuable assistance and backing. Once the website was all set to go, Oiltankers (both Europeans and non-Europeans) were invited via email to partake in the gaming stake. This time, 75 colleagues from all around the world caught the soccer fever. The betting scores were just as thrilling as the soccer matches themselves. In the end, it was Johannes Mörlein, Tank Terminal Manager Oiltanking Gera, who appeared to be the most knowledgeable about football and he was the lucky one who could proudly carry home a bottle of champagne. Unfortunately, there was only one winner. However, there were no real losers since all the players had an endless supply of great conversation topics — a good time was had by all. When it comes to the World Soccer Championship in 2010 in South Africa, Kay thinks it will be a safe bet in terms of even more. CONNECTIONS 19 C olor my world C olor my world TRUE-BLUE SWEET sensory surprise The Spanish word “Vainilla” (from which all other forms are derived) is a diminutive of “vaina” meaning “sheath, pod”, owing to the sheath-like shape of the fruit. BLACK. “Black Friday”, “black out”, “black humor”… but what about “black flower”? The natives of Mexico were familiar with vanilla. The Aztecs named the vanilla beans “Tlilxochitl”, a word that is derived from tlitic (black) and xochitl (flower) referring to the color of the pods. The vanilla vine that has been cultivated in Mexico for hundreds of years has been introduced into other tropical areas. Madagascar still provides the majority of the world’s vanilla, although there are various other export countries like Reunion, the Comores Islands, India and Indonesia. Another species grows on the island of Tahiti. ORANGE. At least once a year, many Dutch citizens paint the town red — or rather “orange”. On April 30, the so called “Queen’s Day”, a national holiday to mark the Queen’s birthday, the country erupts into one big, all-day street festival. Amsterdam and Utrecht tend to draw the biggest crowds. However, you can also find concerts, games fireworks and flea markets, where mostly children go to sell and trade their second-hand goods, all over the country. Furthermore, many Dutch citizens abroad stick to the tradition of making decorations and/or getting dressed in orange in honor of the color of the royal house, the House of Orange. ORANGE It is not easy to grow vanilla. Good cultivation conditions are needed. The pale yellow flower of this orchid lasts only a single day and each flower has to be pollinated by hand. This is why vanilla is one of the most expensive spices. Orange Is The Order Of The Day A lot of Dutch citizens (as well as foreign wellwishers) get dressed in orange in honor of the Queen’s birthday. 20 CONNECTIONS TRUE-BLUE. Now it is written in black and white: Women really do like pink and purple more than men. However, the favorite color of both sexes is blue. These likings do not depend on culture, character, education or other social factors, but are rooted in human evolution. This is the result of a recent test conducted by Anya Hurlbert and Yazhu Ling, two neuroscientists from Newcastle University, UK. In their study, young adult men and women were asked to select, as rapidly as possible, their preferred color from a series of pairs of, colored rectangles. “Although we expected to find differences between the sexes, we were surprised at how robust they were, given the simplicity of our test,” comments Anya Hurlbert. The researchers explain the different color preferences based on the human’s hunter-gatherer theory, where women — the primary gatherers — would have benefited from the ability to stock up on ripe, red fruits. Also associated with red shades was the rosy-looking face of a man as he sought a promising partner to produce healthy offspring. POLY CHROME. When talking about beaches most people tend to think of the white powdery tropical ones like for instance in Boracay, the Philippines. However, do not forget the legendary pink beach on Harbour Island, the Bahamas. Or Rabida Island, the Galapagos Islands, which is known for its unusual red-colored beaches. In addition, there are black beaches in Costa Rica or Lanzarote, Spain, not to mention the unforgettable Costa Verde, Sardinia, with its famous gold-colored sand. And what about a green beach? Just head for South Point, Hawaii, and you can wander around in sand that is as green (due to olivine crystals) as grass. P O LY C H R O M E © nvollmert/pixelio BLACK The universal Preference for “blue” might be rooted in human evolution and the natural penchant for a clear blue sky as it signals good weather and stands for pure water. © Erfolg79/pixelio Do you feel blue? Do you see red? Do you look at things through rose-colored spectacles? We are surrounded by colors in our everyday lives — both physically and verbally. Have a look at our examples and you will soon see that there are no red herrings! © Nataraj/pixelio picture courtesy Hollandse Club, Singapore © Alchemie/pixelio Color palette GreEn with envy? No need to turn red — many people dream of spending their vacation on a pristine sandy beach. CONNECTIONS 21 FA M I LY A F FA I R S READER’S CORNER We are family ... and action! Try to solve our riddle and don’t miss the chance to win! Please send your entries to: [email protected], or contact us by post: Oiltanking GmbH, connections Team, Admiralitaetstrasse 55, 20459 Hamburg, Germany or by fax: +49(0)40 370 99 499. In order to promote the notion of being “one big family”, once a year some Oiltanking offices organize a special day — and sometimes the “real” family members of Oiltankers are even invited. Here are two recent events. Wadi family day During his welcoming remarks, Gerard Reumer, Chief Executive Officer Oiltanking Odfjell, Oiltanking Odfjell Terminals & Co. LLC (OOT) recently held its 3rd Annual Family Day at Wadi Al Abyadh on 15 February 2008. Approximately sixty people, consisting of management, staff and spouses, children and other relatives, attended the event. The family day is becoming a traditional event aimed at promoting camaraderie outside the office. thanked one and all for contributing to the successes and accomplishments of the company during the previous year. He also encouraged each and everyone, including the children, to enjoy a day full of fun and excitement. Hudhud Travels prepared fun games like Pictionary, waterfilling, sweet-hunting, catapulting, and bridge-building. Each person participated in the games, including the little ones. Then a hungry group feasted on delicious traditional Omani food prepared by Ali Mohammed Ali. The day was a great triumph. Everybody is already looking forward to the 4th Annual Family Day! Go, Trabi go! An afternoon packed with new experiences awaited the Oiltankers from head office in Hamburg on June 5, 2008 on their so-called office outing. After being divided into teams, each group was given their first challenge: driving a Trabi*. This car, with its cumbersome column gear-shift, was the most popular vehicle in former East Germany and now enjoys something of a cult status. After picking the drivers, the next hurdle came: each team consisting of two cars had only one city map and one guide between them. The trick was to stay in touch all the time. In addition, a questionnaire had to be filled in with the correct answers, good group pictures had to be taken and practical tasks, such as tying a sailor’s knot correctly, had to be completed — and as quickly as possible to maximize the chance of winning the medal (made of liquorice). The Trabi tour took the teams all over the city of Hamburg and eventually to a delicious buffet. The perfect end of a day filled with fun, facts and figures: anything goes! 22 CONNECTIONS The sum of four numbers equals 89. CONGRATULATIONS Quiz solution The first number is 11 less than the ! second. The third number is seven We knew we could count on you but we were overwhelmed by how much our readers enjoyed our brainteaser in the last issue. Some solutions even reached us while the print was still wet. Many thanks to all of you! Maybe next time you will have as much luck as Michael L. Smith, Motiva Biofuels, whose name was drawn from a hat. Congratulations, the golf balls are on their way to you! more than the second and six less than the fourth. Can you work out the four numbers? The right numbers are: 9, 20, 27 and 33. NEW QUIZ Can you do the trick? In 1963, Hayley Mills played the female lead in the comedy Summer Magic, directed by James Neilson: If identical letters correspond to the same number and viceversa, which numbers need to be inserted for the subtraction to be correct? (A leading zero does not feature.) - = S U M M E R M I L S M A G L I C Healing hues Trabi tour Oiltankers exploring Hamburg on their office outing. * The name Trabi is derived from the German word “trabant” (fellow traveler). Not out of the blue People have believed that colors can dramatically affect human health, inner harmony and even emotions for centuries. According to the principle of chromotherapy, otherwise known as color therapy or colorology, colors have healing properties. This alternative method of treatment uses color and light to balance a person’s body wherever energy is lacking, be it physically, emotionally, spiritually, or mentally. Chromotherapists believe that colors trigger emotional reactions in people and use Luescher’s color test to diagnose patients (developed by Swiss psychologist Prof. Max Luescher in the early 20th century), which involves applying color and light to specific areas and pressure points on the body. Specific colors — in the right amounts — are thought to have healing properties. The chromatherapist’s toolbox includes gemstones, candles, wands, prisms, fabrics, especially silk, and colored lenses. CONNECTIONS 23 Papa, patata, Although the potato cultivated worldwide belongs to just one botanical species, solanum tuberosum, the tubers come in many varieties which differ greatly in size, shape, texture, cooking characteristics, taste, and … color! Take, for example, the so-called Vitelotte, a gourmet French class prized for its deep blue skin and violet flesh, Desiree, a red-skinned potato with yellow flesh and a distinctive flavor or the Tubira, which has a pink skin and white flesh — to name but a few. While the Incas called the potato papa, Spaniards called it patata, apparently confusing it with another New World crop, the sweet potato (known as batata). In 1797, the English herbalist Gerard referred to the sweet potato as “common potatoes”, and for many years solanum tuberosum was known as the “Virginia potato” or “Irish potato” before finally displacing batata as the potato. Noting that the potato is a staple food in the diet of the world’s population and recognizing the need to focus on the role that the potato can play in providing food security, the United Nations has declared 2008 the International Year of the Potato. potato Bloom Potatoes became fashionable thanks to Queen Marie Antoinette, who loved to wear potato blossoms in her hair. IMPRINT connections Vol. 20/2/2008 Published by Oiltanking GmbH, Corporate Center, Admiralitaetstrasse 55, 20459 Hamburg, Germany, www.oiltanking.com, Telephone +49- 40- 370 99 485, Fax +49- 40- 370 99 499 E-Mail [email protected] Coordinator Gabi Wuestenberg, Manager Communications Editor Renate Eijkholt Design raz design Print V.I.G. Druck & Media GmbH, Hamburg Published 3 times a year Copy Deadline: vol 20/3 14.10.2008 L ast but not L east
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