THE WORLD OF OILTANKING VOL. 24/3 DECEMBER 2012

connections

businessHealthy

ASIA-PACIFIC

INDIA

EUROPE

E D I TO R I A L

CONNECTIONS2 CONNECTIONS 3

C O N T E N TS

Contents

LEISURE & FUN

MIDDLE EAST

NORTH AMERICA

LATIN AMERICA

06 We can, we care ... we celebrate

08 Conference with fruitful results

09 OTIMS goes online

04 Wellness at work

18 Clean energy in Southern India

20 Healthy beginnings at IOT

24 Niche market presents opportunities

30 Oiltanking Houston crude oil expansion project

32 From "American Paradise" to "Sportsman's Paradise"

40 “Green Economy: Does it include you?"

42 Rattling facts

10 Attaching great weight to health

12 interview | Meet Oiltanking’s new Managing Director

15 Bridging the gap

16 We can, we care ... for occupational health

22 Balancing act

26 Cultural experiences | „Round the world ticket”

38 Preventing falls at worksites

11 Lexicon | LWD

34 Healthy hints

37 number | 2 out of 11

44 sport | Run for Leukemia

45 sport | Strikingly good pose

46 sport | Just keep running!

47 Reader's Corner

48 Last but not least | “Dirt is good”

CLeAn eneRGY

GReen eCOnOMY

RunninG

PEOPLE & PLACES

18

40

44

When people meet they often exchange “How are you?” or as common in the Asian Pacific region “Have you had your lunch?". These are polite questions – though in most cases it is rather a way to greet each other and/or an introduction for small talk than the expression of a profound interest in the actual mental or physical health status of the other person. Nevertheless, personal wellbeing matters a lot and individuals as well as societies are becoming increasingly aware of personal and public health. Also companies show growing interest in health by implementing a healthy organizational structure and by focusing on the health of their employees.

If we go by the attributes in McKinseys “Anatomy of a healthy corporation” (Quarterly 2007) I’m pleased to say that Oiltanking is “well prepared”, “resilient to shock”, we “execute well” and we try to “align employees around common purpose". Just as human health improves when cared for, employees will experience a positive attitude towards the company when they feel safe, valued for their contribution and being looked after. A healthy corporate culture improves the performance of a business in a number of areas.

It is therefore that Oiltanking does not solely aims for a healthy organizational structure but also emphasizes on the actual health of its employees. Being our most important resource providing them with a healthy workplace and taking care of colleagues’ emotional and physical health is of utmost importance for Marquard & Bahls and its subsidiaries.

It only remains for me to add: “Eat well, move more, be happy!"* and enjoy reading our latest issue of connections – which – you probably already guessed – focuses especially on health this time,

Carlin Conner Managing Director Oiltanking GmbH

Health check

iMPRinT connections Vol. 24/3/2012 Published by Oiltanking GmbH, Corporate Center, Admiralitaetstrasse 55, 20459 Hamburg, Germany, www.oiltanking.com, Telephone +49-40-37099-485, Fax +49-40-37099-499 e-Mail connections@oiltanking.com Coordinator Gabi Wuestenberg, Manager Communications editor Renate Eijkholt Design raz design, Hamburg Print BEISNER DRUCK GMBH & Co. KG, Hamburg Published Three times a year Copy Deadline vol 25/1 05.02.2013

* Slogan of the stand on nutrition and physical activity of the European Commission's Directorates-General for Health and Consumers and for Agriculture and Rural Development

at the 20 KM of Brussels, Belgium (May 27, 2012).

Print compensatedId-No. 1224533

www.bvdm-online.de

AS I A PA C I F I CAS I A PA C I F I C

Massage Team from the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) to provide in-office massages (twice a month) to promote relaxation, stress reduction, and pain and tension relief for the staff. The terminal and employees split the costs of each service they booked.

To boost both mental and physical health, colleagues also attended exercise classes. After office hours, the office building entrance was conveniently transformed into a “workout studio” with colleagues enthusiastically taking part in kickboxing, cardio fit and body conditioning. Oiltanking also goes beyond the confines of the terminal to participate in sporting events such as bowling and badminton. Colleagues increasingly take part in runs and marathons like the Standard Chartered Marathon 2012, Run for Hope 2012 (an annual charity event to raise funds for cancer research), the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge 2012 and the Jurong Lake Run 2012.

In order to help manage the program and promote workshops and activities, a WHP Manager (an employee who plans and manages the WHP program) was appointed along with participants from other pre-existing committees to help share the work and deal with the implementation. The upcoming activities will be communicated via email and posters. Based on feedback from staff via online surveys and attendance records, the most relevant activities were selected for the employees. These activities provided them with the motivation and skills to improve not only their own lives/lifestyles but also those of their family members. Paul Chung, a Regional Human Resources Manager, highlights the many advantages: “The attraction of the WHP program is that it enjoys credible support from the government in terms of funding, recognition and a network of support agencies. On the

company level, we have planned a series of events (lunchtime talks and after-work exercises in the workplace) to educate our staff and also help them workout and break into a sweat.” The WHP program will also have such lasting and positive outcomes as reduced turnover and absenteeism, enhanced motivation and improved productivity, as well as improve the Oiltanking Singapore image as a more positive and caring organization. In future, statements like “I feel so stressed at work and home. How can I relax?” or “I’m too tired to exercise after work” will hopefully be a thing of the past.

“Just 30 seconds! C’mon, you can do it! Hang in there …” If you had to squat with your upper legs at 90 degrees to your lower legs, back straightened and only your shoulders leaning against the wall, how many minutes or seconds do you think you could maintain that position? When the colleagues from the Oiltanking terminals in Singapore took part in this sport assessment in May 2012, not before long some of them were quite taken aback at their physical condition. And it was the same story when they had to jump over benches for three minutes and do an arm/a shoulder flexibility test. In no time, some felt their muscles aching; they were out of puff and felt exhausted — even though they believe that they were quite fit. These three exercises were the lead-up to a detailed health promotion campaign within Oiltanking Singapore and were intended to take stock of the colleagues’ personal results and eventually galvanize them into action.

In the past, people believed that being healthy meant being free from sickness or disease*. Today, the definition

of health has changed. On average, employees work eight hours a day. As such, the workplace is a key setting for promoting positive health by creating healthy environments and providing health promotion programs and services in the workplace. By taking up the cause to create a healthy workforce Oiltanking Singapore launched the Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) initiative of the Health Promotion Board, an agency run by the Singaporean government.

At the end of June, the Oiltanking colleagues participated in the first of a series of workshops, learning about relaxation techniques such as aromatherapy and self-massage, as well as office ergonomics. In addition, Oiltanking Singapore enlisted the services of the Mobile

OM Creating wellbeing and transformation in a yoga class held at the Oiltanking Singapore office.

ReLAxATiOn The light hands of the blind

masseurs provide much-needed stress relief.

In August 2012 Oiltanking Singapore launched its workplace health promotion initiative. After personal “physical tests”, employees are offered a variety of measures, all aimed at improving their health and quality of life.

CONNECTIONS4 CONNECTIONS 5

Wellness at work

*According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 1946 health was defined as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

“I enjoyed this workout program with my colleagues immensely. It was a lot of fun

and also enhanced team building among us. Now I definitely feel healthier than before!”

Wong Lai Pek, Senior Accounting Executive

Rachel Caruana — the very first employee at Oiltanking Malta who initially worked as a secretary and switched to the position of Logistics Manager in 2007."I joined Oiltanking Malta as a secretary on September 1,1990 and was totally on my own at the time. For the firstmonth, I didn’t even have an office and worked from home. Later, I found an apartment, which we used as a base for the first two years until we started operations and had our office at the terminal. Working at Oiltankingfor half of my life has been great and I am looking forwardto many more years to come!"

Karmenu Gerada — first hired as a driver, then worked as an operator for 10 years before he cut back and is now doing errands and filing."I started out as the company driver for Oiltanking Malta in November 1990, although back then we didn’t even have a company car! I switched to work with the operators when the company started its operations. Due to some

health issues, I was away for some time in 2011. Surprised but happy when the company offered me another job possibility to resume working, I accepted. I am very proud to be seen in white shirts with the Oiltanking Malta logo on them."

Alex Fenech — joined Oiltanking Malta as an operator at the outset of 1992 and has been helping to shape it ever since. He was promoted to Shift Leader and then Operations Manager."20 years seem like a long time but looking back I realize that they have passed very quickly. The growth of the terminal was in gradual stages. And it was not always plain sailing; there were several hurdles along the way but with good planning and support from my superiors and colleagues, we managed to overcome them to the best of our abilities."

E U R O P EE U R O P E

On October 5, 2012, the new extension was officially inaugurated by His Excellency the President of Malta, Dr. George Abela, in the presence of Oiltanking employees and its customers. The President highlighted the importance of German foreign direct investment and the impact of Oiltanking’s investment on the Malta Freeport. Around a 1,000 ships use the company’s facilities every year, generating other services such as tugboats, mooring, pilots and ships’ agents. He added that while Malta might not

For just one night, on October 4, 2012 Oiltanking Malta tweaked the company slogan slightly to “We can, we care, we celebrate”. The company had every reason to do so as it celebrated 20 years of operations in Malta. The festivities were organized to thank all the stakeholders who have contributed to the success of Oiltanking Malta through the years. The Magazino Hall, one of Malta’s many historical landmarks and in actual fact an oil storage warehouse back in the 18th century, was chosen as the venue for the occasion which his Honorable Prime Minister of Malta, Dr. Lawrence Gonzi, bestowed with his attendance.

The Oiltanking Malta terminal located in the Malta Freeport zone has been constantly growing over the years. Back in 1992, the modest terminal handled just a few vessels a month (52 per year) and 240,000 tons of products a year. Today, it is a well-established and major player in the Mediterranean oil storage business, busy handling around 1,000 vessels and 7.5 million tons of products annually. With the recent commissioning of an additional fuel oil tank with a capacity of 13,400 cbm in February 2012, the storage capacity has increased to 562,000 cbm spread amongst 25

possess mineral resources, it has skillful people and a geographically strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean, a sea where a considerable amount of merchant shipping traffic passes. In honor of this occasion, Hellmuth Weisser, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Liesel Weisser, Member of the Board, and colleagues from the Oiltanking head office and clients were also present.

tanks (5,000 cbm to 35,700 cbm). Since 2012, Oiltanking has also facilitated the importation of liquid petroleum gas by means of a pipeline built based on state-of-the-art technology.

It was the expansion of the company’s operations that necessitated larger offices to accommodate more operators and upgrade the facilities for the welfare of its 60 employees. Therefore, a new two-story building was constructed that includes a new canteen, lockers and showers for the operating staff on the ground floor. The first floor consists of offices and a new conference room to cater to the growing number of office staff. In 2013, Oiltanking Malta plans to upgrade the existing control room, which will include an extension to house new high-tech work stations and control panels.

exCiTeMenT On MARCH 28, 1992 Oiltanking Malta welcomed its first vessel, MV A.P. Moeller.

PiOneeRs Karmenu Gerada, Rachel Caruana and Alex Fenech (from left) have been working for Oiltanking

Malta since the very beginning twenty years ago.

Besides celebrating its 20th anniversary, Oiltanking Malta had another good reason to celebrate: The inauguration of the extension of its office and operator canteen facilities in Birzebbugia on October 4 respectively 5, 2012.

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we celebrateWe can, we care,

ESSEntiAl MOVE As the terminal’s operations are steadily growing, the office building also needed an extension.

ROunD TOuR Dirk exalto proudly showed the honorable guests, among them His excellency the President of Malta, Dr. George Abela and His Excellency the German Ambassador to Malta, Dr. Hubert Ziegler, the terminal (from left).

E U R O P E E U R O P E

Conference with fruitful results

in the first week of October 2012, the chemical business community visited the 46th European Petrochemical Association (EPCA) — a unique network event that has grown steadily over the years. In the past three years, the meetings either took place in Berlin/Germany or Budapest/Hungary as both cities epitomize this business sector in their own special way: Berlin represents the significance of the chemical industry in Germany and the rest of the world, while Budapest functions as a cultural gateway between Eastern and Western Europe. Together, they form the greatest consumer market in the world.

This year the “who’s who” of the petrochemical business convened in Budapest: Producers, traders, shippers, brokers, transporters, storage providers, distributors, users and all related service-providers. Among the several thousand attendees, ten colleagues from Oiltanking terminals were also present: Chin Hao Bay, Andy Loh, Thomas Chee (all three from Singapore), Nina Kreander (Kotka/Finland), Merje Volt (Tallinn/Estonia), Johan Verellen, Nancy De Groof and Erik Dopper (all from Oiltanking Stolthaven Antwerp/Belgium), Erwin Mortelmans (Oiltanking Odfjell Oman) and Daan Vos (Oiltanking Europe).

As it was possible to get a list of the participants in advance, the Oiltanking colleagues contacted people ahead of time to organize meetings. On average, everyone had around twenty meetings in the space of three to four days. “The EPCA is a perfect opportunity to meet many different and potential customers and a decent amount of business stems from EPCA for us,” comments Erik Dopper, Oiltanking Stolthaven Antwerp/Belgium, on the worth of the conference for the company. Despite the tough program, the fun factor wasn’t in any way forgotten about during the daytime or the evening get-togethers.

At the beginning of October 2012, ten colleagues from Oiltanking terminals in Asia, Europe and the Middle East attended one of the most important petrochemical conferences, the European Petrochemical Association (EPCA), in Budapest, Hungary, which finished on a very fruitful note.

REViEw Oiltanking colleagues nina Kreander, Chin Hao bay

and Merje Volt swaping ideas on EPCA (from left).

photo

: courtesy o

f EPC

A

Given the constant developments on the software market and the integration of several stand-alone databases in a “one-stop shopping” solution with state-of-the-art web technology, Oiltanking began to look for alternatives and reconsider its existing technology. In close cooperation with the Marquard & Bahls IT department, the initial steps were accomplished by transferring WebOffice 2 to a web-enabled environment with IBM XPages. The next step was to convert the Oiltanking Information Management System (OTIMS) into a web-enabled environment.

The OTIMS database is the Oiltanking quality management system which permits the distribution of guidelines, instructions, forms and documents to the global terminal network to assure the high-quality, process-oriented completion of internal and external tasks. Thanks to OTIMS, which has been in use since October 2009, Oiltanking is able to integrate different standards, including Safety, Environment and Quality. This database offers Oiltanking the opportunity to comply with the various certifications like ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OSHAS 18001 among others. Today, OTIMS consists of a database installed at each OTIMS user’s work station. To meet future needs, Oiltanking decided to activate OTIMS for easy web access for the user via an Internet Browser. After 25 days of design and implementation, OTIMS went online on December 3, 2012, and has been accessible to all colleagues ever since.

The OTIMS Web application has several advantages for the end user:

• Access at any time via the internet • Accessible with smart phones (iPhone, blackberry) and tablet devices• easy usage• self-explanatory

And last but not least, OTIMS Web users can access the latest version of an important document at any time.

The Oiltanking Information Management System (OTIMS), a secure document database for

compliance management, went online on December 3, 2012. OTIMS web users now have the latest version of all important documents at hand round the clock.

OTiMs goes online

READily AVAilAblE Oiltanking OTiMs is now

implemented in a web-enabled environment.

CONNECTIONS8 CONNECTIONS 9

CRunCHY TReAT Last year Oiltanking

brought along potato chip boxes in the shape of a

tank bearing their logo — a gimmick some visitors still

remember and asked after this year.

Missingtoday

The abbreviation “LWD” has a number of different meanings and the context tells us whether it refers to a “Little White Dress”, the Dutch city of “Leeuwarden”, “Logging While Drilling” or “Lost Work Days” — as we do here. But what exactly is a “Lost Work Day”. At Oiltanking,LWDs are counted as calendar days (including weekends,holidays or free shifts) from the day after an accident hasoccurred and that the employee missed. Absence due to commuting accidents or non-occupational illness is not included.

Due to Oiltanking’s core business and the high proportion of operational work it involves, there is an inherent risk of a potential accident. The frequency of accidents resulting in one or more days off work per million working hours (Lost Work Day Case Rate) could be again reduced at the Oiltanking facilities worldwide in 2011. In order to prevent accidents or their reoccurrence, all incidents and near misses are carefully reviewed and analyzed. Improving all aspects of operations and promoting a proactive safety culture is a constant endeavor of Oiltanking.

Work-related injuryA work-related injury is any injury such as a cut, sprain, fracture, etc. which results from a work-related activity or exposure involving a single incident in the work environment, such as onetime chemical exposure or back problems from a fall.

Work AccidentA work accident is any work-related event resulting in an injury to an employee, contractor or other third party with subsequent days away from work, restricted work, job transfer, medical treatment or first aid treatments.

LWD (Lost Work Day)Any calendar day of absenteeism from work due to a

work-related injury has to be counted as a Lost Work Day (LWD) starting the day after the accident and ending the day prior to returning to work.

LWDC-R (Lost Work Day Case Rate)The Lost Work Day Case Rate (LWDC-R) is the number of accidents involving Oiltanking employees that result in one or more lost work days due to work-related injury per 1,000,000 working hours.

LWDC-s (Lost Work Day Case severity)The Lost Work Day Case Severity is the average of lost working days due to work accidents of employees resulting in one or more days away from work.

WeiGHT

Attaching

to health

Total no. of LWDC x 1,000,000 working hours

Total no. of annual working hours incl. overtimeLWDC-R =

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

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A treadmill, dumbbell rack, bench press, shoulder press, lat pull down and hyperextension — sounds like the apparatus of a wellequipped fitness studio, doesn’t it? Well, these do indeed belong to a fitness room — not at a public studio, but the Oiltanking terminal in Copenhagen. And it is weighty proof that the Health and Safety Committee does not take the endeavor to improve colleagues’ health lightly. At the beginning of 2012, the committee discussed and looked into possible health initiatives. The objective was to heighten every employee’s focus on her/his personal health and ensure that all of them were healthy enough to do their respective jobs at the terminal. This attempt gained additional momentum due to the fact that Oiltanking Copenhagen became an integrated part of the Copenhagen fire brigade’s first response effort and operators were trained as smoke divers in 2010. This entails having to pass a physical medical test conducted by the local fire brigade every second year. In 2012 the check-up was due and the terminal initiated a health campaign for all employees.

Therefore, in May/June 2012 the Danish Heart Association performed personalized health checks at the terminal. Physical measurements such as blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol were just one part of the health check. It was rounded off by an individual consultation with a nurse from the Heart Association for every employee.

Once again, it became clear how important it is to preferably avoid or at least reduce smoking, alcohol consumption and stress, as well as have a healthy diet and exercise regularly to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Based on the general recommendations, the Health & Safety

Commitee took immediate action. Danish pastries? Soda? Nope — now a new and healthier food supplier caters for the terminal. In order to encourage smokers to quit smoking, courses are offered and information about the risks of smoking is clearly displayed in the smoking room. Last but not least, to increase physical activity among all employees, a fitness room with a wide range of equipment has been set up in the office building.

The colleagues in Copenhagen already proved how sporty they are two years ago when they jumped at the chance to take part in “Getting the World Moving”, the world’s largest workplace health and wellness program, the Global Corporate Challenge (GCC). For the future, the plan is to continue the current health campaign with both a dietician and regular fitness sessions at the terminal to maintain the focus. But with their determination, the colleagues are bound to keep on moving!

Oiltanking Copenhagen, Denmark, has always been health conscious. The recent measurements taken will increase the colleagues’ health awareness to an even

higher degree by getting them actively involved.

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in GOOD sHAPe not only does the new fitness room at Oiltanking Copenhagen look good, but also

the additional measures taken to emphasize the employees’ state of health.

Definitions

L E X I C O N

LWDGReAT

I N T E R V I E WI N T E R V I E W

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connections: How did you and your family feel about moving back to Hamburg?Carlin Conner: Beyond dealing with the normal hassles and anxieties of any move, my wife and kids have been extremely supportive. Karen, my wife, has been the one taking care of the actual moving as I have been on the road quite a bit. She, as most of our spouses I suspect, deserves so much credit for her support over the years. My success has been dependent on her support. I am certain these moves are much more difficult on the family than the executive. I also have a teenager that has made this move once before and a five year old. How they process the move is completely different, but both are excited about the adventure that is now in their path. I am so proud of their resiliency and also very excited about the opportunities this move provides my family.

What do you think will be the most challenging task in assuming your new position?The good news is that we have an experienced, talented and energetic team managing our various businesses. Additionally the businesses, for the most part, are extremely well positioned to continue to serve our customers going forward.

My biggest challenge will be to continue the very successful regional management approach while also ensuring that we are managing in a consistent, thoughtful and strategic way. A secondary challenge is the luxury problem of managing and prioritizing the many opportunities that face us today. Due to our success we have become a “go to” company in our industry and therefore we have more than enough projects to select and pursue. Sometimes this “oversupply” results in opportunities that we will not

A familiar face — at least for the colleagues at the Oiltanking head office — is back from Houston, Texas/USA to take up a new challenge. Carlin Conner has already been with the company for twelve years, three which he spent in Hamburg, Germany, between 2003 and 2006. On September 1, 2012, he was appointed as the new Managing Director of Oiltanking GmbH.

My main objectives are:

➜ Absolutely support the “best in class” HSSE approaches and results that are achieved to date — sustainability and corporate social responsibility are more than just a fashion statement for Oiltanking

➜ To build upon the excellent existing foundation with exciting new growth in and out of our historical businesses

➜ Increase talent management efforts

Managing Director

Meet Oiltanking’s new

each and every one of us experiences ups and downs from

time to time. Unfortunately, worries are part of life. Sometimes

it is difficult to find a solution on your own or you do not know whom to

ask for help. In order to support colleagues in difficult situations, Marquard & Bahls introduced an “Employee Assistance Program” (EAP) in February 2012, offered by an external consultant, ICAS. Employees of Marquard & Bahls and its subsidiaries in Germany and their direct family members can call on an external and independent consultant on a 24/7 basis and receive immediate assistance on all kinds of issues. These can be of a practical, legal or emotional nature: You may need advice on insurance or an inheritance; you may need help in looking for childcare or simply emotional support. The consultant immediately analyzes the situation and offers advice on the next steps to be taken, for instance. If required, one-on-one sessions can be arranged on a short-term basis to treat emotional matters.

Of course, everything is handled on a confidential and anonymous footing. Callers do not even have to provide their name when seeking assistance.

The company hopes that the employees keep using this service as it helps address thorny issues before they get out of hand or overcome existing difficulties.

What most kids call the best time of the year — the school holidays — often becomes the most stressful time for working parents as they have to plan and organize childcare for this period. Since the beginning of 2011, Marquard & Bahls has been offering support to colleagues in Hamburg with “Kidz Playground”. Kidz Playground organizes holiday camps for children aged between six and twelve, where they spend the whole day doing all kinds of sporting activities and playing with other kids their own age. As a result, not only do the kids have fun, but their parents can also rest assured that their children are in good hands.

Marquard & Bahls supports its employees by assuming twothirds of the cost and is glad to see that this service hasbeen well received and hopes that parents now agree thatschool holidays can actually be fun!

www.kidz-playground.de

Marquard & Bahls sets great store by taking corporate responsibility in different areas. Our social responsibility thereby includes matters related to work-life balance. Here are just two recent examples of how the company tries to ensure and protect the well-being of its employees.

bridging the gap

Helpful hotline

JusT A PHOne CALL AWAY With the help of the employee Assistance Program (eAP), employees can count on confidential advice

and support.

HAPPY HOLiDAYs Knowing that their kids are in good hands at a holiday camp sponsored by Marquard &

bahls, colleagues no longer have to worry about the usual holiday problem: “Who will take care of my

children while i am working?”.

Play it safe

P E O P L E & P L A C E SI N T E R V I E W

CONNECTIONS14

pursue and thus we must say no to projects that in most cycles would be pursued.

How would you describe your work attitude?I like for our teams to taste and enjoy success. In this regard I truly believe that well prepared, smart and creative approaches to opportunities and challenges usually leads to success. I am also a firm believer that a strong team culture is a consistent success factor in leading companies. Surrounding myself with motivated, intellectually curious and energetic colleagues is always my objective. In addition I will not stand for myopic and self-serving colleagues, that are disrespectful and close minded towards team mates. Smarts and knowledge will set the stage, respectful execution and leadership sets one apart.

What inspires you?My family, including my parents, give me great inspiration to achieve. Fear of failure is a strong motivator and the fear is not about me, but it is a fear that I will let my team

and/or family/friends down in whatever I am doing, including a friendly basketball game.

What personal traits do you appreciate in colleagues?Honesty, diligence, respect for others, intellectual curiosity and open to change.

What do you do in your spare time?I like to play sports, especially golf, but it seems I do not get to play very often. Traveling with my family, seeing new sights is exciting and provides for personal growth. I also like to read and fish.

What three things would you take to a desert island?Since you say things and not people, I will have to say: 1) boy scout handbook; 2) a saw; and 3) my new iPhone with extended batteries!

CONNECTIONS 15

educational background and career path

I went to a small university in Louisiana where I studied statistics, chemistry and environmental sciences. My first job was working as an environmental engineer at GATX in Houston where I performed emission modeling and completed air permit applications; then I went into operations management, where I was involved in labor union negotiations and general management of operations; transferred into sales where I learned how the business is commercialized.

Then in September 2000 I accepted a job at Oiltanking Houston, working for Jim Schepens and Adrian de Monchy. I can say that within two months I knew I found my new home at Oiltanking. Three years later I accepted an ill-defined role in Hamburg that grew into

a very nice role that included international business development and business interactions with boards, shareholders and top management.

In mid-2006 I returned to Houston to manage Oiltanking North America. In 2011 we successfully offered 30 percent of Oiltanking Houston and Oiltanking Beaumont to investors on the NYSE, where at the time of the IPO we had a market cap of roughly $800 million USD. Within one year, we almost doubled the market cap to $1.45 billion USD.

And then, in the fall of 2012, I was offered and accepted the position of Managing Director of Oiltanking GmbH plus a seat on the Marquard & Bahls Executive Board.

”I like for our teams to taste and

enjoy success.“

Jobs can be quite varied — interesting, fulfilling, demanding, boring … but what about dangerous? It is an incontrovertible fact that Oiltanking’s core business, the storage of oil and petrochemical liquids, bears an inherent risk of potential hazards in the workplace. But it is also an indisputable truth that Oiltanking does its utmost to guarantee a safe and healthy work environment. Point 4 of its Health, Safety, Security & Environmental Policy states that the company will, “Provide a safe and healthy work environment for all employees and contractors with adequate facilities and appropriate protective equipment.” And Point 5 reads: “Identify and analyze potential hazards and security threats and implement measures to avoid, prevent, control and restrict the associated risks.”

As different countries take different approaches, the HSSE & Corporate Communication department in Hamburg, Germany, develops group wide minimum requirements in the form of a HSSE Manual, based upon which the facilities are asked to prepare and implement adequate management systems at local level. The aim is to ensure occupational health in compliance with the

specific country’s legislation, regulations and incentives, but also in accordance with Oiltanking’s principles as defined in its policy. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), occupational health is defined as “The promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupationsby preventing departures from health, controlling risks, and adopting work to peopleand people to their jobs.”

In order to safeguard occupational health, Oiltanking continuously improves all aspects of its operations and promotes a proactive safety culture. Next to the implementation of adequate management systems that address health aspects, emission controls are performed locally and operators are provided with state-of-the art Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to safeguard occupational health.

Regarding medical care, all Oiltanking profit centers are encouraged to develop programs for conducting regular health checks for their employees. In 2011, such free medical check-ups were organized by more than 60 percent of our locations worldwide. For all employees based in Hamburg, health days are organized annually — this year in September under the topic “Eye Health”. The health day included theoretical input from experts as well as practical sessions.

To provide the best medical advice and services for all travelers and expats, Marquard & Bahls signed a

membership agreement with International SOS — the world’s leading provider of medical assistance, international healthcare and security services (see also connections vol 23-2, August 2011). In 2011, a group-wide travel manual including various health tips was prepared and distributed.

Last but not least, psychological and social issues are also addressed. In line with the commitment to implement measures to increase the work-life balance of its employees and offer support in different situations, Marquard & Bahls enlisted the services of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider. This program has supported employees and their family members based in Germany on a wide range of issues since February 2012 — from work-related and emotional problems to practical and legal questions. All matters discussed are treated strictly confidentially. (See also page 15)

Between the physical and psychological working environment and a person there is a two-way relationship and a continuous interaction. The work environment can

have both a negative and positive impact on a person’s health and productivity. A healthy colleague is more likely to be productive. Understanding that this helps people and the organization, Oiltanking took up the cause of creating a healthy, safe und supportive environment, which it is constantly refining.

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

Oiltanking is organized into variousdepartments, each and every one of which is crucial for its smooth and satisfactory work process. As the oil and gas industry is one of the riskiest when it comes to employee health and safety, providing and securing a healthy and safe work environment is not only absolutely necessary; it is also a fundamental pillar of Oiltanking’s Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE) culture and philosophy. One of the many tasks of the worldwide local HSSE Managers is to ensure compliance in cooperation with colleagues from the corporate HSSE & Corporate Communication department in Hamburg, Germany.

... for occupational health

We can, we care

MeDiCAL CARe Colleagues and contractors at the Oiltanking terminal in Vitória, brazil, during their recent health check 2012.

THe RiGHT OuTFiT While unloading a tank truck an operator at Logística de Químicos del Sur S.A.C. lQS, Peru, wears his full PPE: safety helmet, full face shield including a respirator, antistatic chemical suit, product-resistant rubber gloves, safety harness for fall protection and safety shoes.

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conditioning the agricultural soil and providing high nutrients for the plants, thus maintaining our atmosphere’s carbon neutrality.

The project makes a significant contribution towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing methane from the poultry waste and replacing fossil fuels, thus contributing to India’s action plan on climate change. IOT Mabagas has increasingly gained the goodwill of the local community, government officials and industry experts through its commitment to developing and implementing the project successfully. It now looks forward to more projects of this type to provide clean energy for other parts of India.

the Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE)standards for contract labourers and maintaining good relations with the communities around them to successfully complete the power evacuation lines, the multinational project team joined forces to overcome these hurdles. The project was certainly a team effort with the procurement, project development, engineering and fertilizer marketing teams working together to complete it in time.

The contribution of IML’s research lab based in Navghar, Mumbai, towards seeing this project through has been remarkable. The lab has run many batches to understand the gas yield potential of different feed stocks available from different sources and studied the fertilizer value of the manure from the lab-scale reactors.

The plant, which was completed in November 2012, was built using cutting-edge technology, equipment and systems. The feeding system comprises solid and liquid feed stock mixing pump and scrapper floor which is specially designed to handle selected feed stocks. The submersible and long shaft agitators and roof top holders rank among the best in India, as do the MWM gas engines. In addition, the plant has a modern automation system programmed from Germany.

Generating employment

The commissioning of the plant has increased the employment opportunities for the people of Namakkal, thereby contributing to rural development in the region. The green power generated will be fed into the local grid, thus reducing the power deficit in the city, while the organic fertilizers from the plant will contribute towards

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I N D I A

IOT Mabagas Limited (IML), a joint venture between IOT Infrastructure & Energy Services Ltd (IOT) and Mabagas, is currently in the pre-commissioning stage for its first greenfield 2.4 MW biogas power plant — the first project of its kind in India, which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Germany has been one of the most successful countries in the world in the biogas sector with around 5,000 biogas plants. However, India, despite having more biogas feedstock, lacks plants of a suitable size with modern technology. In 2009, Mabagas and IOT formed a partnership to provide an ideal platform to combine Mabagas’s German technology and IOT’s EPC expertise and operational strength in India to make ground-breaking progress in converting various types of organic wastes to biogas and power in India. The joint-venture IOT-Mabagas Ltd (IML) thus began setting up its first greenfield 2.4 MW biogas power plant in the village of Thathayangar Patti, Namakkal District in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, in early 2011.

Namakkal is home to about 40 million chickens, a couple of sugar mills situated on the banks of Cauvery River and many sago industries. Thus, the abundant availability of mixed feedstock coupled with an excellent road network made the region ideal for setting up the biogas plant, which is spread over 17 acres of land in a prime location to optimise the logistics operations for the project.

The project is a first of its kind in India, using mixed feed stocks of poultry litter, sugar and sago industry waste, and cow dung in a system of Continuously Stirred Tank Reactors (CSTRs). The plant will generate around 1,000 cbm of biogas per hour, which will be burnt in high-efficiency engines to produce about 18 gigawatt hours of power that will be fed into the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board grid. The project will also produce about 25,000 tons of high-nutrient organic fertiliser and 44,000 cbm of liquid fertilizer, which will be sold via the existing marketing chain of major fertilizer companies in Southern India. The plant will also be registered under the clean development mechanism of the United Nations.

A team effort

Pioneering projects come with their fair share of challenges, which, when overcome, give the industry a new benchmark. It was no different for the biogas project. From blasting rocks and laying the foundations for the buildings, fermenters and other facilities to establishing and managing

energy

POSitiVE COntRibutiOn not only the environment will benefit from the new plant

but also the rural development and the community of Thathayangar Patti, in the

Southern indian state of tamil nadu.

PiOneeRinG PROJeCT The biogas project of iOT is unique and will set standards for the future in india.

Clean in southern india

I N D I A

Before the participants could start to feel sorry for themselves because of their state of health, help was at hand in the form of eight nutritionists, who guided them towards healthy eating habits in one-on-one sessions. During these consultations, they recommended easy-to-follow dietary plans based on the person’s body type and lifestyle.

The real fun, however, was reserved for the next day, when the participants were taken through various exercises to stay fit. At least four groups of as many as 50 people made their way to the basement of the IOT office in Nahur, Mumbai, wearing sneakers and track suits where they were taught exercises ranging from simple ones they can do at their desk to a full-blown aerobics workout to get a lean, mean look.

Although it has been a while since the program, the effect is as strong as ever since many IOTians have stuck to the exercise regimes they began just after the program. Some have even realized the importance of a good breakfast, think twice before taking a second helping of that yummy dessert and have replaced that 5-o’clock vada pav with fruit or a nutritious health bar.

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When you live in a metropolis like Mumbai, where distance governs your daily plans, a healthy lifestyle takes a backseat. You tend to skip breakfast simply because you have to catch that 07:16 h train for the 90-minute commute to the office. By five pm, your work day is nearing an end and you suddenly realize that you are hungry so you head out to the snack bar nearby for a fix of deep-fried potato dumplings with sweet and sour chutney sandwiched between a bun (this ubiquitous snack is called vada pav in Mumbai). You know it is unhealthy, but there’s little choice. “But actually you do have a choice” is what the nutritionists told the participants from IOT at a health camp organized in the company’s Mumbai office in May 2012. Over 300 people took part in the two-day Workplace Wellness Programme, which was aimed at raising awareness of the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle amongst the young attendees.

The first day saw everyone lining up to have their blood pressure taken, their Body Mass Index (BMI), bone density and metabolic age checked. This exercise, yielded some surprising results. Many participants’ metabolic age was way above their actual age, for instance. Ideally, it should be equal to or less than their actual age. Thanks to an unhealthy lifestyle, many of us have slow metabolism and increased body fat at a much younger age, which causes this anomaly (see box).

at iOT

5 easy-to-follow diet:

Eat small meals at frequent intervals (usually every two hours) Replace snacks like chips with nuts or fruit Breakfast is a must Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to keep yourself well-hydrated Exercise for 30 minutes at least three times a week

Metabolic age refers to a number calculated by comparing your average Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR; amount of energy consumed per unit of time) with that of your age group (your actual age). Body fat requires much less energy than lean muscle, which is much more active metabolically. Therefore, as we age and the proportion of our lean muscle decreases, our metabolism slows down.

tOO HEAVy, tOO liGHt OR juSt RiGHT? An indian colleague awaiting the weighting result.

FOOD FOR THOuGHT nutritionists elaborated individual healthy diet recommendations.

subsTAnTiAL inFORMATiOn A regular glance at the balance is

important to monitor one's weight.

Healthy beginnings

During a two-day Workplace Wellness P r o g r a m m e , colleagues from the IOT Infrastructure & Energy Services Ltd office in Mumbai, India, learnt a lot about how to go about creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

balancing act

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Every year, the OECD lists the top-ten countries with the best work-life balance based on three key variables:

1) The percentage of employees who work very long hours (more than 50 hours a week)2) Time spent on leisure and personal care (including sleeping)3) employment rates for women with children

The OECD found that Denmark has the best work-life balance, followed by Belgium, with Spain and Norway ranked third. However, in the past few years the topic of work-life balance has increasingly become an important matter in many industrialized countries. Due to diverse legal and cultural backgrounds, countries address their concerns in varying ways. The British government, for instance, launched a work-life balance campaign in 2000 which was aimed, among other things, at tackling the long-hour culture.

What is your typical day like? According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the average person in OECD countries* works 1,749 hours a year and devotes 62 percent of the day (14.8 hours) to personal care (eating, sleeping, etc.) and leisure (socializing with family and friends, hobbies, computer, television, etc.). Dedicating enough time to both work and your personal commitments is a juggling act often referred to as “work-life balance”.

But how exactly do you define work-life balance? Is it finding a job with 40 hours per week or less? Perhaps it is working with a seemingly low career risk, often sneered at as a 9-to-5 job? Or is it the issue of how much time is left to spend with the family? As each individual has different needs and lifestyles, people interpret the topic of work-life balance differently. Finding the correct balance is challenging but it eventually contributes to personal well-being and can have additional physical and psychological benefits. Healthy employees are also more committed and engaged, thus improving their performance and the productivity of the company they work for. Employers who help employees reconcile work and personal commitments by implementing a work-life strategy will invariably create a win-win situation for everyone involved — employees and employer — not to mention improve customer satisfaction.

The European Union promotes the work-life balance by means of several directives, such as the Pregnant Workers Directive, the Parental Leave Directive and the Equal Treatment in Employment Directive. Of course, member states exercise their own right to implement more extensive laws, such as the “Adjustment of Hours Law” (2000), which gives Dutch workers the right to shorten or extend their normal working hours — thus providing a very flexible work schedule. Belgium’s system of time credits also offers employees a more flexible working time. In Denmark, a law was passed to make access to part-time work easier in order to foster a more family-friendly labor market. In Ireland, the National Framework Committee hopes to raise the awareness of work-life balance issues with an annual promotion activity called “Work-Life Balance Day”. In the USA, this topic also gained momentum and in 2003 the first National Work and Family Month was celebrated. And in Singapore, the

Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy was set up in 2000 to promote work-life harmony. Besides organizing programs and formulating strategies to help organizations to implement work-life strategies, the Committee also monitors and reviews the adoption of work-life strategies. A biennial award honors organizations that are committed to supporting employees in reconciling work and personal needs. The “Work-Life Excellence Award” was first presented in 2006 (formerly known as “Family-Friendly Employer Award” and the “Family-Friendly Firm Award”).

New policies, legislations and programs that try to achieve a work-life balance continue to be developed around the world. But increasingly the effectiveness of work-life practices even goes beyond governmental regulations and standards as companies implement work-life balance practices at their own discretion — including Marquard & Bahls and its subsidiaries like Oiltanking.

* OECD 34 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

** Charles Buxton, (1823 – 1871), English brewer, philanthropist, writer and Member of Parliament

photos: courtesy of copenhagenmediacenter.com/Tuala Hjarnø

FROnTRunneR A report of the Organization for economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2011 named Denmark the best country for work-life balance.

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

Look for healthy ways to relieve stress, e.g. by exercising, eating healthy food and getting enough sleep. Try to resist the urge to cope with stress by smoking or drinking too much. Try to think positively: How about encouraging yourself with an “I can cope” attitude? Don’t shy away from asking someone for a helping hand.

Create your own boundaries by setting limits as to when you are available to others. Prioritize things (and check if they are really that urgent) and take care of the essential ones first. Try to make and reserve some time for yourself to recuperate.

“You will never find time for anything. If you want time you

must make it.”Charles Buxton**

Finding a suitable balance between work, family commitments and private life is not only important for an individual but also the

company s/he works for and society as a whole. The problem is how to find this balance. Here are some international approaches. basic building blocks for a better balance

metric tons annually via the jetties and load about 15 to 20 trucks a day.

The Phase 6 project has truly put Oiltanking Odfjell Oman and the Port of Sohar on the chemical distribution map, immediately making it one of the major Middle Eastern players in the field. The idea is to expand Oiltanking Odfjell Oman’s chemical presence further, not only for third parties, but also for future tenants in the Port of Sohar. The land required for further chemical expansion is still at Oiltanking Odfjell Oman’s disposal, which is eager to develop it.

storage tanks. And voilà, Phase 6 was born!

The project was initiated through the upfront conclusion of contracts in the first quarter of 2011. The construction — as the past five — was carried out by a consortium of IOT Indian Oiltanking & Larsen & Toubro and got underway in May 2011. The twelve related tanks were commissioned according to plan in July 2012 and range from 2,000 to 3,100 cbm. The supporting infrastructure has been configured in such a way that they can store a wide variety of chemicals and oil products, partly with dedicated and partly non-dedicated lines. Contracts have been signed with major players in the chemical and oil distribution market. The products to be stored range from base oils to acrylates, aromatic solvents and drilling fluids. The main function of the tanks will be to facilitate the distribution of products to Oman and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)* market, but also aid the further redistribution of break bulk in India and East Africa. All tanks are being linked to Oiltanking Odfjell Oman’s jetty infrastructure, as well as some dedicated newly built truck-loading bays. Once all the new customers have settled in well, the plan is to additionally handle about 200,000

M I D D L E E AS T M I D D L E E AS T

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The smiling faces at a function organized by Oiltanking Odfjell Oman in Sohar on October 1, 2012 spoke volumes. Finalizing a project is definitely a good reason to celebrate but the icing on the cake was the fact that the realization and progress ran continuously and smoothly, and during six consecutive construction phases — representing 8 million man hours in total — no Lost Work Day Case (LWDC) was reported.

After a construction phase of 14 months, Oiltanking Odfjell Oman commissioned its latest so-called Expansion Phase 6 of 28,638 cbm, bringing the terminal up to a grand

1,395,287 cbm. Even though it was by no means the biggest of Oiltanking Odfjell Oman’s expansions, its importance lies more in the underlying reasons as to why the tanks were built. They are a mere reflection of the company’s diversification strategy into chemicals with the aim of doing things a bit differently to other terminals in the Arab region, making Oiltanking Odfjell Oman uniquely active in multiple industries. While other terminal projects announced in the terminal’s immediate vicinity mainly focus on clean and dirty petroleum products, Oiltanking Odfjell Oman detected niche chemical and oil markets, which presented opportunities for the addition of smaller

iMPOsinG FACiLiTY With the latest construction phase, the

total capacity of the Oiltanking Odfjell Oman terminal in sohar

amounts to 1,395,287 cbm.

FinAL TOuCH Finalizing the sixth consecutive construction in sohar representing “8 million man hours

without any Lost Work Day Case” was reason enough for all parties involved

to celebrate at a special function.

niche market

In July 2012 Oiltanking Odfjell Oman commissioned its so-called Expansion Phase 6, setting the terminal apart with an impressive total capacity of 1,395,287 cbm. The total construction phase was also quite imposing.

presents opportunities* Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for the Arab states of the Gulf includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.

TeAM AWARD During six consecutive construction phases - representing 8 million man hours - no lost work Day Case (lwDC) was reported.

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

My first encounter with Oiltanking dates back to February 2006 while I was still studying supply chains and logistics at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. When I was searching for a Master’s project, I came across a jetty simulation project at Oiltanking Texas City and Houston, Texas, USA. To cut a long story short, I submitted my application, went to the interview and a few months later, hey presto, I landed at Houston Airport and the first of many Oiltanking adventures began.

From Rotterdam to Houston …Before moving to Houston in the spring of 2006, I had already known that things were generally big in the USA compared to other countries and they say things are even bigger in Texas! It didn’t take me long to realize that this was very true. The enormous highways with multiple lanes with big, seemingly endless trucks were the first reality check; the following weeks were jam-packed full of other amazing impressions.

One unforgettable exploit was hearing friends shouting “shotgun” every time we went to get into the car. I wondered why on earth anyone would need to bring a gun to a barbeque. Perhaps I was hanging out with the wrong crowd? But apparently “shotgun” is slang for the passenger seat of a car, going back to American history and the Old West: The person sitting next to the coach driver would

carry a shotgun to protect them from robbers or Native Americans (Indians). But why is “riding shotgun” so important nowadays? A friend explained it thus: This particular seat is the best one in the car because you have a dominant position and the best view without the responsibility of driving! And driving is big in Texas! The Houston area is huge and commuting 80 to 100 kilometers (roundtrip) or even more every day is perfectly normal. Coming from Indonesia and being used to short European distances, I just couldn’t get my head around spending so much time in the car. And while I was afraid of getting bored driving so many kilometers on my own, I took it as a

cultural experience of its very own and before long started enjoying the freedom in my car and the many radio stations. Although Houston has a strict speed limit on the roads, I stepped on the gas — professionally that is — and got my second assignment for Oiltanking, which brought me to the headquarters in Hamburg in the summer of 2008.

sPORT is ALsO biG in TexAs as Didon experienced. Perhaps he should

not have worn his uT (university of Texas) cap while in transit at the

Los Angeles airport the same year as Texas beat usC (university of

southern California) in the national basketball championship!

Didon Rahardjo, presently a customer service coordinator at Oiltanking Copenhagen, started his career at Oiltanking as an internal trainee in 2007. In the meantime, not only has he gained a lot of knowhow thanks to the different positions he was assigned to; he has also gathered many cultural experiences as his postings took him on a world tour. Here, he remembers

some of his most impressive and unforgettable impressions during his professional “stopovers” in the last six years.

Round theworld ticket”

PORTRAiT After completing his traineeship at Oiltanking Texas City and Head Office in Hamburg in 2009, Didon Rahardjo embarked on a career journey through different positions at Oiltanking — customer service officer (BE, OM) and customer service coordinator (DK) in five countries — en route to his

present location. In May 2012 he started working as a coordinator at the customer service department at the terminal in Copenhagen, Denmark.

TYPiCAL TexAn? What about cowboy boots, rodeo and steak, just to name a few examples.

Houston“

pict

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cou

rtes

y of

Gre

ater

Hou

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Con

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and

Visito

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From Houston to Hamburg …Although I had visited various parts of Germany as a tourist several times before and during my degree, there is a big difference between just “visiting” and actually living there. For me, it started with learning a new language and adapting to another new culture — or should I say cultures, as the working environment at Head Office is multicultural and I had the opening to work with German, Dutch, Estonian, Ukrainian, Bolivian, Maltese, Belgian and American colleagues. The fact that the Euro 2008 championship took place that summer made the cultural experience even more interesting. To be outside in the park watching the soccer games together with the locals was wonderful and, being so passionate, they proved the stereotype of Germans being a bit reserved absolutely wrong. I soon became a fan of Hamburg’s beautiful city and German food, enjoying sausages and Schweinshaxe (roasted pork knuckle) — food I had not tasted before. But after finishing my international traineeship, it was time to trade “Wurst & Knoedel” (sausages and dumplings) for waffles, chocolates, fries and little bit of Belgian beer.

From Hamburg to Ghent … My first “real” job started in Ghent, Belgium, in the winter of 2009 as a customer service officer. Coming from an international environment in Hamburg to a very Flemish environment in Belgium was quite a change — especially if you are the only non-Belgian at the whole terminal. Personally, I find Belgium to be an unique and a complex country as it has different faces. The north, the Flemish region, where people speak Dutch, has all the main industrial ports such as Antwerp and Ghent. The South is typified by the beautiful, hilly Ardennes and the French-speaking Walloons while in the East, a small section of the Belgian population even speak German.

transport from Muscat to Sohar (a distance of about 300 kilometers) mistakenly thought I had landed in Dubai (about 500 kilometers away from Muscat) so there was nobody waiting for me. But instead of being stranded at the airport, that very same evening I came into contact with my first Omani friendliness. Some local people asked me of their own accord if they could help me. They managed to arrange some alternative transportation for me without asking for anything in return. What a rare thing it was to come across such kindness in this individualistic world we live in!

The fact that not all Omanis speak English and me no Arabic led to some funny incidents. On one occasion, I went to a money changer to get some Emirati dirhams for a visit to Dubai. After exchanging some niceties, I told the cashier the amount of money I wanted to change. He asked me for my “password”, which was necessary to exchange any money. I was confused as to why I needed a password to do so and explained to him that this was my first time in his shop, which is why I didn’t have one yet. He insisted on having my password and did not believe that I didn’t have one. Only five minutes later — with the help of an Indian expat who happened to be there — did I eventually understand that the cashier was asking me for my passport and not a password! In the end, we just laughed and kept it as a nice memory. Reading a leaflet to sample some Indian snakes in a local disco for one Omani riyal was also amusing as later on I found out that what they actually meant was some Indian snacks! After nearly eight months, it was time to grab my passport again, but not to change money this time.

From sohar to Copenhagen …Although I had never lived in Denmark before, I had traveled around Copenhagen and the Sjaelland area on a backpacking trip to Scandinavia about ten years previously. The first week felt like a nostalgic trip. But there was no time for a stroll down memory lane — the present was calling. The language sounded very different and, to a certain extent, weird (to my ears). Trying to pronounce

Although all my colleagues in Ghent spoke English, they knew that I had learned some Dutch during my degree and encouraged me to communicate and work entirely in the

language. Learning Flemish Dutch proved a good investment as it helped me to adapt to my work place and enabled me to enjoy conversations with other people. However, it was daunting in the beginning and I soon realized that Belgians don’t necessarily communicate in standard Flemish Dutch, but in local dialects as well, which I can still hardly understand to this day. After spending nearly two years in Ghent, I had the

opportunity to experience something new again: I was offered an assignment to a place I admittedly had never even heard of before.

From Ghent to sohar …For me, Oman was a mystery compared to the more famous and well-known countries of the Middle East, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia or Qatar. So when I was asked tohelp out in the customer service department at OiltankingOdfjell Oman for six months, I looked forward to it very much as I had never been to that part of the world. At the same time, however, I had some doubts as to whether I could adjust and integrate myself as the cultural difference seemed vast. Prepared with a crash course on Middle Eastern culture, I boarded the plane and as soon as I landed in Muscat the experience began: It was midnight but the thermometer still showed 34°C! I soon found out that the taxi company that was supposed to arrange my

words like smørrebrød or Rødgrød med Fløde (both are names of dishes)

was a nightmare for me in the beginning, nonetheless I was gradually able to make myself understood at least. My colleagues were quite supportive and it also helped that we had customers in Sweden and Norway. As the Scandinavian languages are quite similar, it is common to receive emails or phone calls in Norwegian or Swedish and reply to them in Danish or English if you are from other countries. This was a new

experience for me as I had never worked in an environment where communications happen in so many languages.

The Danish lunchtime is also a bit different compared to many other countries. Over here, lunchtime starts as early as 11.30 am. I am more accustomed to anytime between twelve and one o’clock. So I needed to adjust as I didn’t want to eat on my own and miss out on the chance for a nice chat with my colleagues. When they head home you quite often hear them say tak for i dag (thank you for today), even though it was just a normal working day and nothing special happened. In my past experiences in different countries, normally people only say this on special occasions and not in everyday life. So when I heard it at the office in Copenhagen, it made me think, “Did I do something special today to make them say thank you? I don’t think so!” But I found it to be a nice gesture to appreciate other people.

So far, I have had a lot of interesting experiences but have only seen Denmark in the summertime, which they say is the best time to enjoy the country. When it’s sunny, it’s very convenient to enjoy Copenhagen on foot or by bike. It is the city’s aim to become the world’s leading bicycle city by 2015. Now I am looking forward to witnessing this “Viking” country in other seasons. Looking back on all the countries I have had the opening to work in — as different as they were — they all have three things in common: it was/is great to experience other cultures, meet people, learn new languages and exchange knowledge; it helps you to broaden your horizons.

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sPeCiAL Mix in Hamburg Didon enjoyed the cosmopolitan flair of the office and city, as well such local traditions as the typical Christmas market every December.

Hamburg

Ghent

Oman

Copenhagen

On tHE MOVE be it on the back of a camel in Oman or on a bicycle in Copenhagen,

Didon is always on the right track.

FACT & Fun Didon started his first "real" job for Oiltanking in Ghent enjoying the team as well as the city.

the initial three-month period of the development. Besides new customers, the additional crude streams (all with different qualities) arriving in the pipelines have also prompted the current customer base to request new tanks in order to preserve segregation and create new blends for refinery consumption. Crude oil marketers are also recognizing the importance of Houston as a trading hub and several are setting up their operations with Oiltanking Houston’s new capacity.

Details of the construction projects

The initial project (Phase 1) that started the transformation of Oiltanking Houston consisted of a 1.1-million-barrel tank construction project along with two new pipeline systems. The first pipeline system is a new 24-inch pipeline that will connect to the Enterprise ECHO tank farm, which will enable Oiltanking’s customers to receive barrels from both the Enterprise Eagle Ford pipeline and the Seaway pipeline. Moreover, a new 30-inch pipeline will be constructed to deliver the customers’ barrels to local Houston refineries. This project is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The next project (Phase 2 and 3) consists of the development of the Appelt tank farm. While Phase 2 consists of 3.2 million barrels, Phase 3 will have 3.3 million barrels of new crude tankage on 95 acres. Both projects will go online between mid-2013 and the end of 2014. Once all of the dust has settled and the new operations have been commissioned, all the associates at Oiltanking Houston will get ready for the next phase of projects that are currently taking shape.

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Oiltanking Houston crude oil expansion projectIn order to handle the increasing domestic crude oil production, Oiltanking Houston, Texas/USA, is offering additional storage capacity with its new Appelt facility, which is currently under construction. Between 2012 and 2014 the total storage capacity will go up from 12 million barrels to 20 million with over 25 new tanks.

markets by investing in distribution pipelines, expansive deep waterfronts and expansion capacity for additional crude tankage. These assets provide refiners, crude marketers and producers with a prime location for these new inbound crude barrels and the optimal opportunity for blending and distribution.

shift from crude oil imports to domestic crudes

Between 2012 and 2014, Oiltanking Houston will increase its storage capacity from 12 million barrels to 20 million with over 25 new tanks at the new crude oil tank farm named Appelt after its address, 2500 Appelt Road. This significant construction and coordination challenge is only possible due to Oiltanking's dedicated engineering and operations group. Along with this tank expansion, the major upgrading and expansion of pipeline systems, metering systems, manifolds and electrical supply infrastructure is underway to maintain the expected customer service level the industry has come to expect from Oiltanking. As an example of these exemplary services provided by Oiltanking Houston, the new Appelt facility located approximately one

in the last two years, the Houston crude market has seen a dramatic change in how crude is delivered to local refineries. While Oiltanking Houston primarily handled import barrels through its extensive waterfront in the past, growing domestic production and new pipelines arriving in Houston have put more emphasis on the inland infrastructure. Customers are progressively searching for alternative transportation to move their barrels from expanding domestic shale plays to the U.S. Gulf Coast. Analysts predict that by 2020 nearly half of the crude oil America consumes will be produced inside the United States.

Along with the U.S. shale production, Canadian crude oil production is expected to rise significantly over the next decade. Just as with domestic shale production, the transportation of these barrels is key, making it economically attractive to move these barrels to various markets. Efforts will be made to transport heavy Canadian barrels towards the Gulf Coast region, where heavy crude oil refiners await and pricing spreads are profitable.

Since the 1970s, Oiltanking Houston has become known as one of the premier crude oil hubs on the U.S. Gulf Coast

mile from the Oiltanking Houston terminal will be connected to the existing tank farm via multiple pipelines, assuring the seamless integration of the two facilities and minimizing scheduling conflicts.

Also, with the fundamental and economic shift from crude oil imports to domestic crudes, Oiltanking Houston made the strategic decision to connect to all of the new pipelines that have been announced, sourcing domestic and Canadian production. This strategic decision will offer all of Oiltanking’s customers ultimate flexibility via multiple inbound modes. This, coupled with the numerous outbound systems, will offer customers options that are unmatched by any other Gulf Coast terminal. Oiltanking Houston is in the process of connecting to the following third-party inbound pipeline systems:

Magellan Longhorn — West Texas crude Kinder Morgan Eagle Ford — Eagle Ford crude and condensate Seaway — Cushing and Canadian crude Sunoco West Texas — West Texas crude Enterprise Eagle Ford — Eagle Ford crude and condensate TransCanada Marketlink — Cushing and Canadian crude

Customer support for the expansion has been extraordinary with 19 tanks contracted during

exisTinG FACiLiTY being located on the Houston ship Channel and having an

extensive waterfront available is one major advantage of the Oiltanking Houston terminal.

neW FACiLiTY The Appelt facility is located one mile

from the Oiltanking Houston terminal and will increase

the total storage capacity by 67 percent from 12 million

barrels to 20 million.

seAMLess inTeGRATiOn The new Appelt expansion property will be connected to the existing Oiltanking Houston terminal via multiple pipelines.

Oiltanking Appelt Facility

Oiltanking HoustonTerminal

Pipelines

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Pipeline

Road

Crude Oil

Petroleum/Chemicals

at a better time for the displaced St. Croix employees. It just so happened that there were several vacancies open at UBT. Therefore, interviews soon followed in St. Croix to see which employees had an interest in moving to Louisiana and the skills to match. In the end, there were a total of ten employees who signed new work contracts and decided to relocate from the "American Paradise" to the "Sportsman's Paradise".

When asked about their experiences, they often had similar reactions. After the closure of the refinery, it was a troublesome time for everyone. There was a lot of uncertainty about finding a new job, being able to support their families and the overall economy of the island in general. "It hit hard, the industry couldn't take everyone," says Trevor Elien, Mobile Equipment Mechanic. After Oiltanking started the recruiting process, the attitudes had changed somewhat. "I felt like a new penny!" as Cardigan Cannonier, Mobile Equipment Mechanic, comments with a big smile. "I made up my mind as soon as I got the message." Of course, some adjustments had to be made

once they arrived; remember that they came from "Paradise"! UBT turned out to be a very different environment to what they were used to. "In St. Croix, the complex was completely enclosed," explains Trevor. "We even had to clean up the railcar tracks." However, after living here for a few months, they are already learning to appreciate being in the open and, as Trevor puts it, "I like to explore the outdoors and surroundings; I like my drive to work". Towards the people at UBT, there was an

instant reaction. "They were very nice, gave 100 percent and we received a very warm welcome," they both agree.

Everyone would say that family and friends are what people miss most about home. However, for some the transitions are still incomplete and they are already planning to be reunited with their families in the near future. Many of them have expressed their gratitude and thanks for the opportunity and in turn have been received enthusiastically by our employees at UBT. A job well done by everyone for everyone!

in August of 2010 the Oiltanking Dupre terminal was awarded a long-term operations and maintenance contract for petroleum coke handling at the Hovensa refinery located in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. Only one and a half years into the contract, the refinery unexpectedly announced that the facility was shutting down due to years of unmanageable losses. The news was devastating to Oiltanking’s new employees and, of course, the rest of Oiltanking. The island of St. Croix, which has been nicknamed "American Paradise", now faced a very uncertain future.

A few months later, the purchase of the latest dry-bulk facility was complete and United Bulk Terminals (UBT), located in Davant/Louisiana, became the newest member of the Oiltanking family. The purchase couldn't have come

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sMOOTH TRAnsiTiOn Ten colleagues from

the former Oiltanking Dupre terminal, us Virgin islands, are

now working for Oiltanking at the

united bulk Terminals in Davant, louisiana.

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After the closure of the Oiltanking Dupre terminal in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands,

some Oiltanking colleagues found a new job within the company at United Bulk Terminals (UBT) in Davant, Louisiana/USA.

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From "American Paradise" to

"Sportsman's Paradise"

CAReFuL COnsTRuCTiOn The fullyenclosed coke handling and storage system was designed to reduce air emissions.

DAiLY business A dry bulk carrier loads petcoke direct from the coke loading dock.

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” —

you have probably heard this proverb upteen times. We have tried to harvest some interesting

facts and news which might come in handy when enhancing your health and raising health consciousness as well as keeping you safe and sound.

Healthy hints

Do you want to know the secret to a long life? Well, maybe then you should consider moving to Sardinia or start eating minestrone soup! The Italian island has long had a reputation for longevity with one of the highest rates of centenarians in the world. This has been underpinned by the discovery of nine Sardinian siblings who were recognized as the world’s oldest living people in terms

of a combined age of 818 by the Guinness World Records in August 2012. The Melis family (the eldest just turned 105, by the way!) accredit their long lives to plenty of exercise and a healthy diet; speaking highly of minestrone soup, in particular. Literally meaning “big soup” this cornerstone of Italian cuisine made with vegetables, often with pasta

or rice is filling but low in fat. The Akea — an acronym for “A kent’ annos,” a traditional toast in the Sardinian language meaning “May you live to be 100 years old” — scientific project is looking into the secret of Sardinians’ long lives. Something we all aspire to, so let’s dish out a tasty minestrone soup!

RecipeThere is no “real” minestrone soup recipe as it is usually made with whatever vegetables are in season or available, and each and every family has its own very personal twist! Hope you relish the recipe chosen by us and bon appétit or as the Sardinians would say: “Bon appetito!“

ingredients (4–6 persons) 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil & oil to sprinkle4–5 cups water or vegetable (alternatively chicken or bean) broth 2 carrots, diced 1 leek, cut in rings 2 sticks celery, diced 2 small zucchini (courgette), cut in half lengthways and thinly sliced into half-moons 4 small potatoes, peeled, diced 1 cup canned cannellini or borlotti beans, rinsed and drained 1 onion, diced ¼ cup small pasta shapes salt, to taste freshly ground pepper, to taste 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley finely grated Parmesan or Romano cheese pesto, to taste (if preferred) 1 cup diced, canned tomatoes

MethodBring salted water (broth) to the boil. Add all the prepared vegetables (except the tomatoes) and the olive oil, stir and cover. Simmer for about 30 minutes. Now add the tomatoes and let the soup simmer for another 15 minutes. Just at the end boil up the soup again, add pasta and

cook until al dente. Taste and add salt/pepper as to your liking. Remove from the heat and stir through the parsley, (flavor with pesto if desired) and sprinkle a bit of olive oil. Serve in bowls with a little grated Parmesan or Romano cheese on top.

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Since Popeye the sailor, the cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar, appeared for the very first time back in 1929 he has been impressively showing us the benefits of eating spinach since then: Namely improving body strength and power. Undoubtedly, spinach belongs to the world’s healthiest vegetables: For instance, it is rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients which help to offset cancer, maintain good blood levels, prevent age related memory loss or prevent cataracts. Unfortunately, its ability to increase strength is a bit of a “weak” point as it has never really been proven. A calculation error made by Emil von Wolff, a German scientist (in 1870 he misplaced a decimal point in the measurement of the iron content of spinach thus giving rise to an iron content 10 times higher than actually measured), resulted in the popular misconception that spinach is a good source of iron. However, in 2008 researchers from the Rutgers University, New Jersey, demonstrated that chemicals in spinach do actually help to build up muscles. Yet, a human being would have to eat over one kilo of spinach each day to come anywhere close to body builder muscle proportions. This year a Swedish study from the Karolinska Institutet found that spinach contains nitrates which boost the production of two key proteins in muscles making them stronger and more efficient. The findings could pave the way for treatments for people with frail or aging muscles.

Power package

burning issue

Zest for life

Generally speaking the topic of “smoking versus non-smoking” usually ends up in heated discussions world-wide. There is also something in the air in Tasmania and its not only the youngster’s smoke, which happens to account for the highest rate of smokers in Australia. Down Under could become the first place in the world to impose a cigarette ban for anyone born after 2000. The motion, initiated by the independent member of parliament Ivan Dean, was unanimously passed by Tasmania’s upper house in August 2012. The prohibition would become effective when people born after 2000 turn 18 (thereafter the legal age to buy cigarettes would be raised with each subsequent year). While the law still remains subject to approval by the lower house of Tasmania, similar measures are also being considered in Singapore and Finland.

esCAPe ROuTe The proposal of a smoking ban high on the agenda

along with a specific year of birth could mean that Tasmania is

heading fast in a new direction.

He WAs in THe KnOW! Popeye the sailor gulps down cans of spinach to gain power and muscle strength.

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its social responsibility to provide equal opportunities and secure and contribute to a good work-life balance. Therefore, the company encourages and facilitates the re-entry of employees after parental leave — also for male colleagues. In 2012, of the 18 German colleagues on parental leave eleven were male, two of whom work for Oiltanking. Of course, percentage-wise this is small but nevertheless a noteworthy number as it stands out as a paragon.

The introduction of so-called “Elterngeld” (parental leave pay) in Germany in 2007 was aimed at offering not only moms but also dads the chance to spend more time with their newborns during their first year of life. Ever since, new parents have been entitled to 14 months of “Elterngeld”, where one parent can claim it for a maximum of 12 months. This means that the other two months will expire if they are not taken by the other parent. Among other trends, this regulation — admittedly slowly but surely — encouraged men to advance into domains that seemed to be exclusively reserved for women: Taking care of the kids. While not too long ago some may have been skeptical about these dads and often derogatively called them “sissies”, today they are praised for taking their part in serious parenting — not to mention the fact that stay-at-home dads facilitate their spouse’s return to work. In addition, social skills benefit from some “extra training” during this time.

The oil business is still a male-dominated world. However, Marquard & Bahls has managed to

increase the total number of female employees continuously over the last few years. It is

Marquard & Bahls’ philosophy and part of

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How often do you brush your teeth? For a long time now dentists have been telling us to brush our teeth at least twice a day — preferably after meals. The additional antimicrobial mouth rinsing, flossing and regular visits to the dentist for professional dental cleaning are by no means a waste of time and money according to microbiologists from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. According to the leading researcher Dr. Steve Kerrigan the mouth is probably the dirtiest place in the human body. For example, if a person has a ruptured blood vessel and bleeding gums, bacteria can gain entry in the bloodstream. There they meet tiny cell fragments called platelets, which gather at the wound and block the blood flow. The bacteria can then stick to the platelets causing them to clot inside the blood vessels thus partially blocking them. This prevents the blood from flowing back to the heart and there is a risk of suffering a heart attack. So, let’s brush up on our dental hygiene!

Research has proven again and again that pets provide health benefits, physically as well as psychologically — as long as you aren’t allergic to animals (or afraid of them!). But, what should you do if, for example you don’t have enough time or space to take good care of your pet or your landlord doesn’t welcome them and you happen to live in Europe? At least for cat lovers in Austria a solution is at hand: A visit to Café Neko, Vienna’s first cat café. Here cats can be petted at a whim while you sip your favorite coffee brew. This additional feline feel-good service is already a well-established trend in Asia,

especially in Tokyo, Japan, where co-called Neko Cafés

(neko means cat in Japanese) enjoy great popularity and you can choose from at least 50 different locations. Meow!

Twice a day?A cuppa with cats

CRiTiCAL CORReLATiOn

brushing teeth reduces the risk of heart disease.

COFFee VARiAnt

in Austria’s first cat café called

Café neko delicious coffee comes with a comfy purr.

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In 1995, the Belgian Road Safety Institute (Belgisch Instituut voor de Verkeersveiligheid, BIVV) initiated a special campaign in collaboration with several governmental departments, the police, and the Belgian beer brewing industry which was aimed at heightening awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving. The so-called Bob campaign focuses on a designated driver approach. The campaign quickly gained lots of attention and is still today equally successful in the Netherlands where the campaign was adopted in 2001. So, if you are in the mood for a night out on the

town and decide to use the car, you’d better opt for a healthy drink or make sure you know who the “Bob” of the evening is — namely the person who does not drink alcohol knowing that s/he will have to do the driving later on. While “Bob” was just a name picked by the BIVV, it is also a suitable acronym for “conscious non-drunk driver or deliberate sober driver” (Bewust Onbeschonken Bestuurder). The name became the symbol against drinking and driving in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Who is “bob”?

“bOb” One point of the “bob” campaign

illustrates that being “100 % bob” means

drinking “0 %” alcohol.

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

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FALL PROTeCTiOn Loading racks for trucks are equipped with guard rails.

sAFeTY HARness must fit closely and needs to be attached to a cable, a hook or other attachment that will take the full dynamic forces of a person falling.But here the other measures, shared

e.g. in the HSSE Manual and incorporated by the respective HSSE Managers at the terminals world-wide, becomes effective: Life by example, constant training and supervision.

It is the committed management leading by example that promotes behavioral safety at workplaces. It is also crucial for colleagues who are working at height to be completely trained. In 2011, e.g. every operator received an average of 75.9 hours of HSSE training, also covering topics such as fall protection. Last but not least, also the supervision - if the knowledge is adopted and put into safe work practices - reduces the risk of falling from height. It is also important that e.g. all external truck drivers receive a thorough HSSE induction including the use of the installed fall protection system at the loading racks.

Despite all efforts to improve all aspects of safety and promoting a proactive safety culture an Oiltanking operator in Bulgaria suffered a fatal accident in June 2010. He fell from a ladder while conducting maintenance work.

Oiltanking not only deeply regrets this accident but also took immediate response. Several local and global meetings took

place with the outcome of the development of a “Just Culture

Guideline” being distributed to all Profit Centers.

Over the years the general accident frequency could be continuously reduced. Nevertheless, the further reduction is a constant concern. And, one should not forget: implementing and living the safety

culture starts with oneself!

COnsTAnT TRAininG is an important part of promoting a proactive safety

culture within Oiltanking.

Globally, falls represent a major public health problem: they are the second leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury death after road traffic injuries (WHO 2010, Fact sheet N°344). Thereby work-related falls – especially from height − resulting in injuries or death account for a considerable amount. In its effort to setting up a safe work place environment, the HSSE & Corporate Communication department therefore has a special interest in providing information and promoting fall protection. Comprehensive and multifaceted prevention strategies have been implemented.

Given the terminals’ work surroundings, e.g. with loading racks for trucks and railcars, keeping floors in a clean and, so far as possible, dry condition is a factor not to underestimate but which is taken-for-granted at Oiltanking. Besides, colleagues are protected through the use of conventional means like respective training, sign posting, warning lines, control zones, designated areas etc. The risk of serious injury is already given when falling from a relatively low height, e.g. less than one meter. At the Oiltanking terminals a good deal of work takes place are in elevated heights. The local HSSE Managers have implemented suitable technical preventive

measures based on the risk assessment of the existing installations and the tasks to be carried out:

installation of railings with guard/hand rail, mid rail and toe-board installation of working platforms installation and wearing of a safety harness with lifeline

At almost every Oiltanking terminal world-wide the respective personal fall protection has been installed by specified service providers. The important part lies then in the attitude of the respective colleagues and third party employee, e.g. truck drivers: they should use the safety equipment properly despite the discomfort and inconvenience that may arise from wearing it. Most commonly this concerns the individual fall arrest system.

According to statistics of the World Health Organization (WHO) in general falls are globally the most common causes of serious work related injuries or death. Consequently, in order to provide a safe work place environment and to protect the health of colleagues and contractors, the HSSE & Corporate Communication department in Hamburg highlights the importance to locally implement measures to prevent falls (from height).

Preventing falls at worksites

Definition of a fall: “An event which results in a person coming to rest inadvertently on the ground or floor or other lower level.”

PeRsOnAL PROtECtiVE eQuiPMenT The safety harness is

anchored to a steel joist via

the lifeline.

picture: courtesy of Capital Safety

GiVE ME FiVE Robson Azevedo, Mauricio Zannin, joão Manoel, Renato Correa and Holger Donath (from left) promoted and supported the celebration of the World

Environmental Day at the terminal in Vitória, brazil.

off to a good start over breakfast, which was then followed by the employees’ children drawing posters with a focus on environmental issues and the adults listening to a lecture held by João Manuel, who is responsible for the project “Banco Comunitário Verde Vida” (Green Life Community Bank). This bank is a “community bank” that promotes the circulation of a currency based on the exchange of recycled materials such as cooking oil, metal cans and plastic bottles. With this “green currency”, citizens who had been previously excluded from the traditional economic system can now buy in some shops in the region or use it in exchange for food at the so-called “Supermercado Solidário” ("Supermarket Solidarity"). The purpose of the lecture was also to ascertain whether Oiltanking can support the development of the project “Banco Comunitário Verde Vida”. At the end of the lecture, the employees planted several tree samplings at the terminal entrance.

Although it is difficult to measure how big of an impact a “one day environmental event” really has on people in terms of creating more awareness for the environment, the colleagues’ ideas at the terminal in Vitória on how to contribute to going green are flourishing. Just to briefly mention a few:

Replace old standard light bulbs in the offices with compact florescent light bulbs or LEDs

Adopt a “double-sided policy” when printing correspondence

Encourage employees to be paper free for the whole day

Switch to a green office cleaning company or request the current company to use non-toxic cleaning agents

Encourage employees to power down computers at lunch time and at the end of the day

Use the operational bikes instead of the operational truck (two bikes were bought for distances and to carry light loads inside the terminal)

The next step for the terminal is to examine the best way on how to support the project "Banco Comunitário Verde Vida". One possibility is to donate recyclable materials, which are separated at the selected waste collection at the terminal, so they can be sold by underprivileged citizens and thereby used as a “green currency”. This would be an investment that pays off for both sides – the community and Oiltanking!

Raising environmental awareness and gaining public as well as political attention is more topical than ever. Yet, the idea to dedicate a full day to encourage the conservation of the environment dates back to 1972. Since the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) set up the World Environmental Day (WED), it has been celebrated annually and held by different countries. On June 5, 2012 – as in 1992 – it was once again Brazil that promoted global positive environmental action with this year’s theme “Green Economy: Does it include you?” And it goes without saying

that the Oiltankers at the terminal in Vitória, Brazil, took part!

Aimed to improve their environmental awareness and sensitize them to problems of socially underprivileged parts of the society, the terminal management together with the HSSE Manager and Human Resources Representatives organized a special event for forty employees and their family members. On June 17, 2012, they celebrated the WED at the terminal. The morning got

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On June 5, 2012, the World Environmental Day was celebrated for the 40th time and hosted by Brazil. A good enough reason for the Oiltanking Terminais terminal in Vitória, Brazil, to get involved with its very own special event.

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Does it include you?”

economy:

“GreenO MATTeR WHAT AGe Forty employees from the Oiltanking Terminais terminal and their family members participated in this year’s World Environment Day through different activities held at the terminal.

Safety Area). The colleagues are required to meet at the Evacuation Assembly Area or use the emergency stairs — but never the elevator — to exit the building. Furthermore, the colleagues comply with the instructions of the designated leader, who is also trained to administer first aid if necessary. While the Security Committee worked out an earthquake disaster plan, it also thought about implementing emergency lights like in the office in Lima as earthquakes often go hand in hand with a power failure.

Over the years, past experiences and new technical developments have helped to provide more safety: Seismic survey techniques have been optimized to provide better early warnings, for instance, and construction techniques have improved considerably. Modern buildings in hazardous regions are designed to resist earthquakes by having a special structure or being built on springs. Nevertheless, good preparation is crucial at the moment of an earthquake. Our colleagues in Peru know this and although the risk can never be eliminated completely, it definitely helps them to feel safer.

What to do in the event of an earthquakeEarthquakes can generally only be felt upwards of four points on the Richter scale. Although it is easier said than done, don’t panic! And remember: duck, cover and hold on!

If you are inside do not leave the building until the shaking stops. Try to take shelter under a heavy desk or doorframe. Stay away from windows and glass and be aware of things that might topple. Prepare for possible aftershocks. Once the earthquake is over, do not use the elevator and help other colleagues to safety while proceeding to the Evacuation Assembly Area.

If you happen to be outside while the earthquake is happening, stay there and move away from buildings, streetlights and utility wires as falling debris can cause fatalities. If you are in a car, stay inside! Pull over to the side of the road, stop as quickly as safety permits and avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses and utility wires.

sitting on one of those thrilling fairground rides, you might enjoy moving up and down and/or sideways quickly, but what about experiencing these kind of movements during an earthquake? Each region has its typical natural wonders — some beautiful, some potentially disastrous. And while outsiders still wonder how people can live under the constant threat of a possible earthquake without going around the bend, Peruvians learn how to handle this, as do our Oiltanking colleagues.

The country lies above an area of intense seismic activity (Nazca tectonic plate), like much of the entire Pacific coast of North and South America. In 2012 alone, over 100 earthquakes rattled Peru — the most recent being on August 2, 2012 at 6.1 on the Richter scale. In 2007, the city of Pisco was the epicenter of a violent earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale. Over 500 deaths were reported and the city is still recovering from the material damage caused. The deadliest earthquake, which happened in May 1970, and the second deadliest recorded, which struck Peru’s capital, Lima, in October 1746, destroying almost the entire city, are also far from forgotten.

imminent danger of an earthquake

For years, scientists, shamans and recently two Russian ladies claiming to have been given the information by extraterrestrials have been predicting a catastrophic earthquake in Lima. The waiting and uncertainty is a real threat to mental health and the only way to reduce the risk is through constant preparation — after all, it is better to be safe than sorry. Therefore, Oiltanking strives to be as well prepared as possible for such an event.

There are mandatory drills from the Peruvian government, which are conducted throughout the whole country. In

addition, Oiltanking holds earthquake drills on a regular basis. Only the members of

the elected Security Committee know the date of the exercise, which is only

“communicated” to the colleagues when they hear the wail of

the emergency siren. Then everyone knows exactly how to react: Stay calm, follow the clearly marked escape routes immediately and head to the security point marked “Zona Segura en Caso de

Sismos” (Earthquake

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“HeLP YOuRseLF beFORe HeLPinG OTHeRs” This rule applies to airplanes as well as earthquake safety. nevertheless, Oiltankers are well trained to administer first aid.

KnOWinG WHAT TO DO Colleagues at one of the terminals in Peru review the course of their latest

earthquake drill.

Peru is no stranger to earthquakes and neither are our colleagues at the Peruvian offices and terminals: Thanks to frequent drills and the disaster plans in place, they know just how to react in such emergencies and have the know-how to tackle precarious situations.

facts

S P O RT S P O RT

for Leukemia

On september 23, 2012, two teams of colleagues from Oiltanking Amsterdam and their relatives — 14 in total — underlined their social commitment by participating in the ten-English mile (16.1 km) Run for Leukemia*. Not only did Oiltanking Amsterdam and the participants come up with good financial results, raising more than EUR 3,000; they were able to flaunt their sportsmanship, too: Their fastest time was 1:13:07 (last place: 1:55:03). The “Run for Leukemia” was initiated by the Dutch

organization “Loop Organisatie Leukemiestichting (LOL)” (Running Organization of the Leukemia Foundation) and took place during the famous Dam tot Damloop, which is part of the Dam to Dam weekend in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It includes several distances (10 miles Race / Business run / Charity run, 4 miles, Run 2Day Ladies Damloop, 2.2-kilometer mini run and 0.6-kilometer mini run, Dam to Dam Wandeltocht (walking) and Dam to Dam Fiets Classic (for cycling). As one of the biggest running events in

the world, it sets amateurs of all ages in motion but also attracts international top athletes. About 250,000 encouraging spectators and dozens of live music performances guaranteed another unique atmosphere this year.

GOOD CAuse Colleagues from the Oiltanking

terminal Amsterdam and their relatives helped raise

money by participating in the Run for leukemia.

My personal journey to achieve something special with my physique started five or six years ago when I felt my health was starting to slip. I started to feel lethargic and run down and needed a change and focusing on my physical well-being seemed to make the most sense.

When I started my training, I didn’t know much about the proper way to exercise and even less about nutrition. With the help of people I met at the local fitness center where I live, over time I improved. My heightened desire led me to attend a bodybuilding competition in 2006 called the Branch Warren Classic in Conroe, Texas. Through the encouragement of a competitor at this show, I set my sights on entering a similar contest sometime in the near future.

“You cannot out-train a bad diet — educating yourself on proper nutrition is critical.”

I became very serious about my training and understanding of how important nutrition and diet was to increasing muscle mass and reducing overall body fat. I even hired a professional nutritionist (diet coach) to help me make sure that everything I put in my mouth was exactly what my body needed to achieve the best physique possible. The changes to my body due to the focused training and improved nutrition made all the difference.

Over the years, my training methods have varied, but currently I train one body part per week and incorporate cardiovascular training such as cycling (spinning class) two to three times a week. In bodybuilding, every group of muscles is important and none should be neglected. I train at least five days a week, spending about one to one hour and fifteen minutes in the fitness center. Resistance exercises such as squats, dumbbell bench presses and dead lifts (all with very heavy weights in a full but safe range of motion) are

my favorites. Given that the muscular makeup of your body has more than one type of muscle fiber, using different sets and repetition ranges will have different results.

“To ensure i keep the intensity of my workouts very high, i plan my training in advance and during my training sessions i watch the clock to control rest periods between each set.”

Staying physically fit is one thing, but competing is another and might not appeal to everyone. After taking to the bodybuilding stage for the first time, I was hooked and craved the excitement of posing in front of a cheering crowd — a desire that only grew as I started collecting trophies and titles. Over the next four years, I would compete in over ten bodybuilding competitions, advancing from novice to amateur and beyond. In July 2011, I was fortunate enough to achieve my goal of obtaining the status of a natural professional bodybuilder by winning my class and the overall round for my Professional Natural

Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) pro qualification. Most recently, with the help of Oiltanking as my

premier sponsor, I competed in two professional

b o d y b u i l d i n g competitions: The first

in Dallas, Texas (PNBA Nationals) and the second in Chicago, Illinois

(PNBA Natural Universe).

In contrast to novices or amateurs, professionals can be

awarded money and prizes. But for me it’s not the tangible value that keeps me motivated to diet and train at this level. Standing on stage with some of the best bodybuilders in the world is an honor and a priceless reward for the arduous workouts and many sacrifices I’ve experienced.

Tiran Lopez, Project Manager at Oiltanking Houston, has found a healthy way to keep his work-life balance in good shape. In his spare time, he does bodybuilding and hasobtained the highly coveted status of professional bodybuilder. Here is his muscular,tension-filled story.

strikingly good pose

* Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells and starts in the bone marrow (the soft tissue inside most bones) where blood cells are made. Characterized by an abnormal increase in immature white blood cells, there are several different types of leukemia grouped by how fast it develops and what kind of white blood cell is affected.

Run

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S P O RT

working in the finance department at Oiltanking Ebytem, Argentina, Gonzalo Aispuro certainly knows his numbers. On October 7, 2012, however, he proved that he also knows how to handle large numbers of kilometers. Having trained relentlessly for the last four months, he ran his first marathon in this year’s Buenos Aires Marathon. And what a difference it was compared to his experiences in the 8, 10 or 21–kilometer marathons he usually does! Not only was the marathon an amazing journey through the beautiful city center with its famous attractions, it also took him through forests and along tranquil lakes. It often pushed Gonzalo and the other eight thousand participants to their limits, too. “During the race, my sensations changed with every kilometer. Until kilometer 30, I ran with my legs but then the ‘wall’ appeared and only my head and the music urged me onwards,” explains Gonzalo. “The desire to reach the finish line and prove that I was up to the challenge really kept me

going.” When he crossed the finish line after four hours, 39 minutes and 21 seconds, he was cheered home by his friends, who had been supporting him throughout the whole race.

For the second year, the International Marathon of the city of Buenos Aires was linked to the Foundation Baccigalupo Sports for people with disabilities and implemented the program “Corro x 2”. The aim was to raise funds to provide more mentally disabled people access to sports and improve their quality of life. Gonzalo is more than eager to help by participating again next year — and achieve a new personal best!

42 K Gonzalo Aispuro, Oiltanking ebytem, exhausted but proud of having finished the buenos Aires Marathon.

running!

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

... and action!Try to solve our riddle and don't miss out on the chance to win! Please send your entries to: connections@oiltanking.com, or contact us by post: Oiltanking GmbH, connections Team, Admiralitaetstrasse 55, 20459 Hamburg, Germany or by fax: +49(0)40 370 99 499.

C O n G R A T u L A T i O n s

Quiz solutionCome on now be honest! What was your first result when you added the numbers of our last quiz without a calculator or pen, was it by any chance 5,000? The decimal sequence tends to confuse the brain a bit. But, we knew all along that you would come up with the right solution, namely 4,100, just as Carsten J. Nies, Calpam Mineralöl-Gesellschaft mbH, in teamwork with his colleague Karsten Wagener did. Well done! And, with the two Sauna Wellness Sets well on their way they will be excellently prepared for future burning questions.

As we all know regular brain exercise can enhance brain function as it helps to produce new brain cells. Also the oxygen flow to the brain is increased which literally helps you think. To keep your grey cells fit, here is our new question: The following equation is correct but, can you ensure that it is still accurate when you move just one match? (We are not talking about using the unequal sign here, but actually two other possible solutions!) Does our new quiz make you gasp for air? Take a deep breath, you have time until February 5, 2013, to send us your matching answers. The winner awaits a Victorinox Voyager lite. Good luck!

Cookies, peanuts, pudding, pumpkin, sugar — all yummy things that are high in calories, but also popular pet names parents like to give their children or words that love birds whisper to each other. If a “cutie pie” has enriched your life since 2012 (early 2013) and you’d like to share this with our readers, we invite you to send us the pictures of your wedding and/or baby. The more the better as luckily, in this case, we don’t have to watch our waistlines — just the deadline: February 5, 2013!

n E w Q u i Z

Perfect match

sweet as candy

Take 1000, add 40 then add another 1000; then add 30 and another 1000; now add 20 and again 1000, then

add 10!

“Dirt is Good” is more than just a catchy slogan. It is a philosophy that underpinned the re-launch of Unilever's detergent OMO back in 2003. The idea is geared towards changing people’s attitudes when it comes to dirt, highlighting that

getting messy is good for both the body and soul. The recent OMO campaign “Futures” was created by the advertising agency Lowe Singapore, who commissioned JOOheng Tan to depict kid’s aspirational futures out of sand.

The artist who used to be a graphic designer got into sand sculpturing as a hobby in 1997. Bagging an impressive number of prizes — among them several World Championships — propelled him internationally to the status of Master sand sculptor. The masterly backdrops for the “Futures” campaign “Astronaut”, “Physicist” and “Archaeologist” are each made of 18 tons of sand, built with superior craftsmanship and high levels of detail, which incorporate shadows, shading and depth. Of course, JOOheng and the kids get hugely dirty while sculpturing, but do see for yourself, isn’t it good?

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

“Dirt is good”

Pic

ture

: co

urt

esy

of

JOO

heng T

an/L

ow

e S

ingapore

/Unilever

2012