2005 – AQ was established by Alain Devroye († 2015) as an off-spec treatment specialist of liquid products.
2009 – Start of a rental division specialized in industrial hoses and fenders for the shipping industry. Soon the rental of reducers, adaptors, pumps were added.
2011 – New services became operational :
• Cryogenic Degas services with Partnership Linde Gas – Maritime and Industrial
• Inerting services – Maritime and Industrial
• Testing & certification of hoses/pipelines (SIR-certified).In a short time, our company grew out to be a certitude in the Port of Antwerp. Through the years AQ expanded fleet and equipment to be able to serve its clients any time, any place. Our experienced staff is at your service for 24/7 assistance on a worldwide European scale.
2015 – New General Manager Bruno Grimbers
2016 – New services:
• Cooling down LNG bunkering tanks
• Refilling of carbon dioxide tanks on board of vessels
AQ Projects was founded: larger environmental projects covering comprehensive services
2017 – AQ Degassing was created because of the increasingly stringent regulations regarding degassing, combined with our ongoing innovation and search to offer our clients the most appropriate solution.
AQ provides, together with Linde Gas, cooling down of LNG fuel tanks.
One of the four new tankers of the Swedish shipping company Terntank has visited the port of Rotterdam on the eighth of August. This is the first ship driven on LNG.
The propulsion of the ship ‘Ternsund’ is provided by two, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient, LNG fuel tanks, with each a capacity of 315m³. The ship, part of the project “Into the future-Baltic SO2lution”, is also equipped with extra facilities to minimize harmful emissions.
The arrival of the Ternsund got a pretty official touch. The ship was festively welcomed by the owners and producers of this oil and chemical tanker, representatives of the shipyard and the port of Rotterdam, members of the European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as other stakeholders and partners.
AQ provided, together with its Dutch partner Linde Gas in Schiedam, the down cooling of the LNG fuel tanks. Before filling both tanks, it is necessary to cool them down to-160 ° c. This happens with liquid nitrogen, that makes the temperature of the tanks drop about 10 degrees per hour. The complete operation takes about 18 hours, whereby safety and quality have the highest priority. Commissioned by Shell, both tanks will be bunkered with LNG. The other three ships of shipping company Terntank will also be down cooled with liquid nitrogen in Rotterdam and bunkered with LNG.
AQ is a young and dynamic company, internationally active and specialized in degassing of cargo-, barge-and shore tanks, railcars, containers, etc. We can provide a ‘Vapor Return System’, during loading of vessels, barges or trucks. This unit can also be used as a back-up system. Furthermore, we offer a complete hose/pipeline test service and renting out fenders, hoses, and reducers.
AQ is situated in the port of Antwerp, thanks to this central location we can react quickly and work efficiently across Europe. Our operational team, trucks and mobile units are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
Our know-how, combined with thorough training and education let us work according to the strictest safety and emission regulations. It is self-evident that all our operators are VCA-certified. VCA is the Belgian equivalent of SCC (Safety Certificate Contractors) and guarantees an extremely safe management system.
Thanks to our mobile units, we can react quickly to worldwide problems. This offers our clients a big head start related to transport, promptness, and efficiency. This flexibility gives us a great advantage to meet the various needs of our customers and also our intervention rate in case of calamities.
If you have any question, please feel free to Contact us
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With more than 10 years of experience in chemical problem solving, Alain Devroye († 2015) established the company AQ in 2005. Because of his background in chemistry and his insight in the needs of the industry, he was sure that people were in dire need of a company like AQ: a reliable, flexible partner who solves problems concerning product contamination or degradation in an efficient way. Throughout the years Alain Devroye specialized in renting out materials for various purposes, including ship-to-ship transfer. Thanks to his extensive expertise he, as Managing Director, was the right person in the right place. In 2015 Bruno Grimbers became General Manager.
There is a team of fourteen professionals – all VCA certified – who do their utmost best to help you regarding all your chemical problems.
Want more information? Contact us free of obligations!
Policy Statement
AQ is a dynamic and fastgrowing company that became a big player as a chemical service provider in the Port of Antwerp and more.
We want to reach that goal by specifying our expertise and gain brand awareness in a fast-evolving market.
The customer chain is restricted, but our services and products are wide. this means we permanently have to pay attention to safety and quality in all it’s aspects (fast and competent service, focus on the customer, time of delivery, price, …).
To be successful, now and in the future, AQ invented a system to not only secure quality but also to keep on improving continuously. Therefore the managing board chooses for quality management conform ISO 9001. Customer satisfaction and continuous improvement
stand central here. The quality improvement plan serves as a pillar.
The market where we operate is the maritime and chemical sector, with all inherent risks and dangers associated with it. The possible risks are mainly in the area of hazardous substances and their respective resistance and compatibility with other materials.
In this context, our Quality and Safety policy is there to avert personal injury for our own employees, subcontractors, and customers. Furthermore, our activities may not result in material or environmental damage.
The tools we use to maintain are:
Our employees are a vital key to success. Their training and
accompaniment will lead to competence and motivation.
This Quality and Safety policy translates to our fellow workers, subcontractors, customers and forms the banner of our company and services. Therefore we require our employees and subcontractors to fully subscribe to this policy and to act in the spirit of it. Furthermore, we expect them to always behave like a good family man with the necessary dose of involvement.
Only in this way we believe that measurable and high-quality growth is possible. For that, we count on you!
We want to strive for continuous improvement of our Quality and Safety Management System. We believe we can achieve this through personal inspections and through careful analysis of failures.
The management commits to comply with all relevant legal obligations.
The objectives for the coming year will be determined annually in conjunction with actions to achieve them.
We will review this statement within 3 years against the needs within the organization and within the community and, if necessary, revise it.
Managing Director,
Bruno Grimbers
AQ is specialized in off-spec treatment. As from the foundation of the company we have shown to numerous customers that we are a reliable partner with regard to upgrading off-spec batches. We solve chemical problems caused by product contamination or degradation.
Do you want more information on off-spec treatment? Contact us!
In 2009 AQ started with a rental service.
Our equipment is stored, tested and utilized in accordance with the relevant guidelines.
Rental equipment:
If you want a quotation, please Contact us
Degassing and purging operations became operational during 2011.
Due to our varieties of different degas units we can offer the best solution for any degas related question or problem
Degas and purging equipment:
We are recognized by the port of Antwerp as an official degassing services supplier.
Want to know more? Contact us
AQ offers a high-quality mobile hose/pipeline test service. Testing hoses on an annual basis is mandatory.
SIR CERTIFICATE
AQ is SIR-certified (StichtingIndustriëleReiniging [Industrial Cleaning Foundation]), which means that we are qualified inspectors in our field. This guarantees a watertight test service that thoroughly scrutinizes and analyses the quality of your equipment.
ON-SITE REPAIRS
Our staff can carry out small repairs on-site at your location
AQ provides, together with Linde Gas, cooling down of LNG fuel tanks.
Before filling tanks with LNG, it is necessary to cool them down to-160 ° c. This happens with liquid nitrogen, that makes the temperature of the tanks drop about 10 degrees per hour. When the tanks have reached the desired temperature, they can be bunkered with LNG.
