Oil & Gas Loading Platforms and Access Systems
The oil and gas industry runs on heavy equipment, harsh environments, and zero tolerance for unsafe access. Whether your operation involves crude loading at a pipeline terminal, refined product transfer at a midstream facility, or offshore platform access in the Gulf, the equipment your operators use to reach tank cars, tankers, and rig decks needs to perform without compromise. Hemco has been engineering loading platforms, gangways, and fall protection systems for the oil and gas sector since 1956.
Our crude oil loading platforms, oil rig gangways, and access systems are built around the realities of the industry: variable vehicle and vessel heights, exposure to corrosive products, weather extremes, and strict regulatory compliance. We engineer each system to fit the specific application, from inland tank truck terminals to offshore production facilities.
Get In Touch
Crude Oil Loading Platforms
Hemco's crude oil loading platforms provide safe operator access for top and bottom loading of tank cars and tanker trucks across upstream and midstream operations. Each platform is engineered around the specific conditions of your site:
- Loading rack configurations for single-spot or multi-station operations, fabricated from hot-rolled structural steel for durability under sustained heavy loads
- Adjustable gangways that accommodate the height variation between different tank car classes and trailer types
- Continuous fall protection that allows operators to move along the platform without disconnecting and reconnecting at each position
- Loading arm and hose arm integration for product transfer, including provisions for vapor recovery where regulations require it
- Grounding verification, overflow monitoring, and spill containment to support compliance with environmental and operational protocols
For terminals handling crude, condensate, or refined products, we coordinate with your operations and safety teams to engineer platforms that meet throughput targets while complying with OSHA fall protection requirements.
Why Hemco for Oil and Gas Access Systems
Hemco builds the majority of our loading platforms and gangways from hot-rolled structural carbon steel. Steel provides the structural capacity, fatigue resistance, and service life that fixed terminal applications demand. We have installations still in active service from the 1960s, a record that matters when you're investing in infrastructure for a long-cycle asset.
For applications where weight is the limiting factor, our aluminum gangways offer the same engineering rigor in a lighter-duty material.
Either way, our engineering staff is involved from initial scoping through installation, coordinating with your operations, safety, and site teams on layout, compliance, and integration with existing infrastructure.
Oil Rig Loading Platforms and Gangways
Offshore and rig-side operations call for a different set of design considerations. Weight matters more on a platform deck or vessel than it does on a fixed inland terminal, and access systems often need to flex with tidal variation, vessel motion, and changing freeboard.
Hemco offers both steel and aluminum gangways for oil rig and offshore applications. Aluminum gangways provide a lower-weight option where structural loading is a constraint, while still meeting the safety and access requirements of rig-side operations. Our oil rig loading platforms incorporate:
- Self-adjusting and articulating gangway designs that maintain safe operator footing as vessel and platform heights shift
- Aluminum or steel construction matched to the weight, corrosion, and structural requirements of the application
- Non-skid open bar grating and serrated stair treads for reliable footing in wet, oily, or weather-exposed conditions
- Integration with rig safety protocols, including fall arrest tie-off points, safety gates, and high-visibility marking
- Marine-rated coatings and hardware to extend service life in saltwater environments
When your project involves vessel-to-platform transfer or shore-to-rig access, we work with your engineering team to specify the right gangway type, materials, and integration approach.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oil Loading Platforms, Gangways, & Access Systems
Can Hemco design oil rig loading platforms for offshore conditions?
Yes. Our oil rig loading platforms and gangways are engineered for marine environments, including provisions for tidal variation, vessel motion, saltwater corrosion, and integration with rig-specific safety protocols. We work with your offshore engineering team to specify the right materials and configuration.
Does Hemco support installation at remote oil and gas sites?
Yes. Hemco's pre-fabricated approach is great for remote installations. Sections are shipped welded as large as practical for transport, with detailed drawings and piece markings for field assembly. Our team can also provide on-site support during installation and commissioning, where needed.
How does Hemco handle custom oil and gas projects?
Every Hemco project includes engineering involvement from initial quote through installation. If your application falls outside a standard configuration, our team will design a custom solution to fit. This is particularly common in oil and gas, where site conditions, vehicle types, and regulatory requirements vary considerably.
About Hemco Industries
Since 1956, Hemco Industries has been a leading manufacturer of access gangways, fall protection systems, loading racks, and bulk fluid handling equipment for railcars, tanker trucks, marine vessels, and other applications. We consider ourselves first an engineering firm that solves customer problems, backed by a 25,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Houston, TX. When your operation calls for something specific, we design and fabricate it to fit.
Get a Quote on Your Oil and Gas Project
Ready to discuss your next loading platform, gangway, or access system installation? Hemco's engineering team will review your project requirements and provide a detailed quote. We work with upstream, midstream, downstream, and offshore operators to scope the right system for the application.
Call us at 281-890-6862 or fill out our online Request a Quote form to get started. We typically respond within one business day.
Request a Quote