Cargo Handling

Seamless Cargo Handling Across Our Four-Terminal Global Network

The efficient, safe, and accurate handling of petroleum cargo is the operational heartbeat of our terminal business. ТОО “Astana-Trans-Oil” operates fully equipped cargo handling facilities at all four of its terminal locations — ensuring that every tonne of product arriving by vessel, pipeline, rail, or road tanker is received, measured, stored, processed as required, and despatched to its next destination without delay, contamination, or loss.

Loading & Unloading Operations

Marine Loading & Unloading: Our deepwater jetties and loading arms at Rotterdam, Houston, and Fujairah are equipped to handle vessel sizes from coastal tankers through to VLCCs. Marine operations are conducted under the supervision of qualified cargo officers, with independent cargo surveying available on client request. All loading and unloading operations are metered by certified fiscal flow meters providing accurate custody transfer measurements for commercial, customs, and tax purposes.

Road Tanker Gantries: All four terminal locations operate multi-bay road tanker loading and unloading gantries with top and bottom loading arms, vapour recovery connections, and automated overfill protection. Weigh bridges at all entry and exit points provide independent weight verification for every load. Automated loading management systems enable pre-programmed load recipes, product authorisation, and automated data capture for billing and inventory purposes.

Rail Car Loading & Unloading: At our Kazakhstan and Houston facilities, we handle rail car operations for petroleum product receipt and despatch — connecting our tank farms to the national and regional rail networks for cost-effective bulk movement over longer inland distances.

Transshipment Services

Our Fujairah, Rotterdam, and Houston terminals are strategically positioned transshipment hubs, enabling cargo arriving from one vessel or source to be held temporarily in storage before being re-exported to its final destination. Transshipment services we provide include:

  • Cargo receipt, measurement, and quality verification on arrival
  • Short-term bonded storage pending onwards despatch
  • Inter-terminal transfers within the port via pipeline, barge, or road tanker
  • Ship-to-ship transfer coordination — particularly for VLCC cargo splitting at Fujairah and Rotterdam
  • Customs and documentation management for re-export

Blending & Product Enhancement

Our terminals are equipped with blending facilities enabling petroleum products to be mixed to precise specifications — creating custom fuel grades, viscosity blends, additive-treated products, and specification-adjusted cargoes. Blending services are available for:

  • Marine fuel blending — creating VLSFO (Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil) and other ISO 8217-compliant bunker grades at Rotterdam and Fujairah
  • Gasoline component blending — combining naphtha, reformate, and additives to produce market-specification motor gasoline grades
  • Diesel blending — gasoil and fuel oil blending to EN 590 or customer specification

Additive injection — dye, corrosion inhibitor, cold flow improver, and cetane enhancer injection systems

Drumming & Packaging

For products requiring retail or small-volume distribution packaging — including lubricants, specialty chemicals, and certain petroleum additives — our Rotterdam and Houston facilities offer ISO-certified drumming, packaging, and labelling services, enabling bulk product to be converted to IBC containers, drums, or packaged units for onward distribution.