From vessel to final disposal: 1,511 tonnes of attic oil managed
Our client required end-to-end support to receive and manage 1,511 tonnes of attic oil recovered from the Brent field. The operation involved port calls in two locations - Aberdeen South Harbour and the Port of Tyne - and required careful coordination across environmental compliance, tank preparation, marine services and waste disposal.
The recovered material required the right storage solution, clear disposal routes and full regulatory compliance. At the same time, the client needed ships agency support, coordinated sampling, independent surveying during discharge, and disposal of associated waste - all without delaying vessel turnaround.
Client
Major international energy operator
Scope
Environmental Services, Waste Management, Ship Agency
Location
Aberdeen South Harbour, Port of Tyne
At a glance
- Managed the compliant receipt, storage and disposal of 1,511 tonnes of recovered attic oil across two UK ports.
- Delivered an integrated solution combining waste management, marine coordination services, tank preparation, sampling and ships agency.
- Completed the project safely, on schedule and with material recovered for reuse, ensuring full compliance and traceability throughout
Approach
We built a clear waste management plan, that mapped how material would be handled, from receipt through to final disposal. This gave the client certainty on compliance, classification and onward treatment before operations began.
Ahead of vessel arrival, a suitable tank farm was identified and prepared, waste composition data was validated, suitable storage secured, and the tanks dosed with biocide to prevent any long-term H₂S issues, protecting both personnel and infrastructure.
At the Port of Tyne, we coordinated boarding teams, arranged for an independent surveyor to oversee the offload, and managed full radiological and chemical sampling once the material was received.
Alongside this, full ships agency cover was provided to ensure smooth port operations.
When the scope changed at short notice and an IBC of waste required disposal from the support vessel, we acted immediately. Transport was arranged, a trailer mobilised, and the waste transferred to our Damhead waste processing facility for compliant disposal - preventing additional port time or disruption to schedule.
Impact
The full 1,511 tonnes of attic oil was received and processed safely, compliantly and on schedule.
The final disposal routes were:
- 402.4 tonnes (27%) to waste-to-energy
- 1,012.4 tonnes (66%) treated, recovered and sent for reuse as secondary liquid fuel
- 111.77 tonnes (7%) incinerated
For the client, this meant:
- One accountable partner managing environmental, marine and waste requirements
- No delays despite changing scope
- Reduced regulatory risk through early planning and certified sampling
- Long-term H₂S risk mitigated before it became an issue
- Clear documentation and full traceability of all waste streams
- Immediate response to last-minute disposal needs