Do Your Part to Continuously Improve the Terminal Industry – Submit a TOPS Proposal Today

The International Liquid Terminals Association is accepting proposals through April 26 for 2021’s Terminal Operating Practices Symposium, its highly regarded all-day discussion to promote peer-to-peer learning and operational excellence in the terminal industry.  

The symposium, in its fourth year, is slated for June 17. It is open exclusively to terminal operators. 

“TOPS allows us to learn and work with people from across the industry as partners without the obstacle of being competitors in the marketplace,” said Greg Johnston, vice president of terminal operations for Lucknow-Highspire Terminals LLC. Johnson has agreed to help ILTA with this year’s TOPS event and will vet submissions. 

TOPS presentations are by terminal operators and for terminal operators, as ILTA members share, reflect on, and compare their challenges across safety issues, including natural disasters, environmental releases, malfunctions, worker injuries and illnesses, near misses and other abnormal operating events. We also welcome examples of innovation and successes in all facets of operations, including safety, environmental protection, security and more. No press, service providers, vendors or consultants may attend, letting participants delve deep into issues affecting everyone involved.   

Under normal conditions, ILTA would host this event in-person in a major metropolitan area. But with the pandemic and ongoing company travel limitations, ILTA has opted to hold the event online at no cost to participants. 

TOPS is only as good as the presentations. And all ILTA’s terminal members have an opportunity to present. 

“I’d like each terminal member to strongly consider submitting a proposal to present,” Johnston said. “This event, I believe, is one of the single most important things that we, as an industry, can do to continuously improve. The sharing of learnings from incidents, near-misses and successes in operations, safety and the environment shows your strong commitment and desire to promote excellence in the liquid terminal industry. “ 

TOPS is one of ILTA’s premier events, and we hope employees from each of our terminal members attend. 

You can learn more about TOPS or submit your proposal here.