Expansion of Noord Natie Terminals with a full fire safety concept

Introduction Noord Natie Terminals

Noord Natie Terminals (NNT) offers tank storage in various sizes. The volume of the tanks varies from 30 m3 to 8300 m3. The terminal has berths for seagoing and inland vessels. The terminal is connected to the railwal. There are several locations for loading and unloading tankers, tank containers and flexitanks. NNT is also an excellent partner for direct transhipment thanks to its excellent accessibility on the quay. Safety has the highest highest priority at Noord Natie Terminals.

Challenge; Expansion

The site has been expanded with two extra tank pits and a place for ship loading. Because of this expansion the entire fire safety concept of the site had to be revised. In addition, it was necessary to take further expansion of the terminal into account. Monitoring, control and interaction of the extinguishing system with the process visualization system was also an important part of the scope.

The order included the design, installation and start-up of the new installations.

Extinguishing water and foam capacity

We have increased the existing pumping capacity for fire extinguishing water. We have added two pump sets for this. For the current project, but also for future expansions, it was necessary to have a large stock of foam on multiple locations. It was decided to have one centralised foam stock in combination with underground piping to supply foam concentrate to the different locations.

Research has been done on how the foam concentrate can be pumped to the foam mixing systems. Considering the initial investment and the maintenance of the installation, our foam pressure tank system has been chosen. This is a stainless-steel pressure tank where extinguishing gas cylinders are used to push the contents out of the storage tank. Since no pumps or rotating parts are required, this system is very maintenance-friendly.

Tank parks

The storage tanks are equipped with a cooling and foam extinguishing system and the tank pit itself is equipped with a foam extinguishing system. A manifold has been built per tank pit with a concrete roof to protect the installation against heat radiation in case of a fire.

The complete installation can be remotely monitored and controlled.

Foam extinguishing system with Foam proportioner

A FoamTronic is installed in every manifold, this is an electronic foam mixing system that accurately mixes foam concentrate and water. It has been specially developed for large foam extinguishing systems. An important feature is that the operation of the FoamTronic can be tested without mixing water and foam concentrate.

Ship loading area

In case of a fire in the ship loading area, it is important to cool or extinguish your own installations. Additionally, it is necessary to provide assistance if there is a fire on the ship. To do this, the maximum height of the ship's deck must be taken into account.

Two monitors have been placed on the quay, each delivering a flow of 6000 lpm and have a throw length of 80 meters. These monitors are remote controlled and can each supply both water and foam.

Fire detection; Fire and alarm system

The electrical spaces are equipped with fire detectors. In addition, strategically chosen places are equipped with manual push buttons and flame detectors.

Management and operation of the extinguishing system

The controller of our extinguishing and detection system is connected to the customer's process PLC system for monitoring and controlling. All details of the installation were visualized on the operators scada system. All extinguishing systems can be started and stopped on the same scada system. In case of a fire the extinguishing systems can be operated in several places.

Inspection; Approved inspection body

The entire installation was delivered and inspected in collaboration with a recognized inspection body.