---

Storage tank operator Odfjell is seeking permission to sack almost 200 members of staff in the Netherlands, daily newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad reports.

The company is said to have informed the courts that the dismissal of 189 of its employees is necessary in order to avoid bankruptcy.

Oddfjell was forced to suspend operations in Rotterdam at the end of July for breaking environmental and safety rules. Government inspectors ordered tanks to be closed down because of the risk of leaks and the lack of proper safety measures.

The closure of its Rotterdam facility has resulted in its major clients terminating their contracts. Last month, key client Shell terminated its contract with the Norwegian firm for failing to meet its obligations. According to reports, Shell had contacted Odfjell at the beginning of August stating that the safety concerns should be rectified within a month prior to finally cancelling its contract.

Odfjell Terminals (Rotterdam) BV is one of the largest independent tank storage terminals in Europe. It has been operational since 1957.

The tank farm consists of nearly 300 tanks, ranging in size from 735 to 40,000 cubic metres (cbm). The total capacity of the terminal encompasses more than 1.63 million cbm, of which approximately 33,000 cbm is stainless steel.

Image: Odfjell's storage terminal in Rotterdam