Black Cluster Project Vopak

The Black Cluster project involves a large-scale, phased adaptation of the Europoort terminal. Vopak wanted to be able to treat newer oil products with the existing tank capacity and enlarge its transhipment potential.

Project properties

Project name

Black Cluster Project Vopak

Location

Europoort, Rotterdam

Client

Vopak Terminal Europoort B.V.

Manifold well

The assignment involved various civil works during the first phase of the project. We built a new manifold well in the middle of the terminal, next to an operational manifold situated between two tank farms. We further demolished, completely refurbished and enlarged a large pump slab, which included the installation of support piles. Aside from the manifold and complete phased adaptation of the pump slab, we also constructed two large substations with prefab walls measuring 10 metres in height.

'Open heart surgery'

This project entailed highly specialised and challenging work in respect of quality, safety and risk. The site offered very limited space to build and was in the vicinity of operational installations. Vopak itself called this project ‘open heart surgery’. When preparing the work activities, we extensively studied the best risk-averse construction method in conjunction with Vopak.