Bulk chemicals storage group Odfjell has been fined €850,000 for using tanks at its Rotterdam site which had not passed official safety checks.

Odfjell had been ordered to prove 51 tanks were up to safety standards by January 1 but failed to do so, local broadcaster RTV Rijnmond reported, quoting Zuid Holland provincial council. The company went on to use 17 of the tanks – resulting in a fine of €50,000 per tank.

Odfjell told the broadcaster it had demonstrated the tanks were safe, and denied other claims it had failed to report a leak of inflammable liquid.

Odfjell first came under fire for lax safety standards at its Botlek plant last year. Among the problems identified by inspectors were a shortage of fire-fighting equipment, poor safety procedures, and staff being over-exposed to the chemical benzene.