Device for implanting predetermined reference marks on a wall of a storage tank by marking with a pin.

The device has a punch positioning tool (10) with an optic reflector (12) cooperating with an electronic tacheometer (20) to determine implantation co-ordinates (x m, y m, z m) of references (M) in a three-dimensional universal set. The tacheometer has an autonomous system storing the coordinates. The precision of measurement of the tacheometer in a direction perpendicular to a wall of a storage tank is +- 0.2 millimeter.