World Bunkering > News > Summer 2010 > Global round-up

AFRICA

Cosulich offers bunkers in Djibouti
Fratelli Cosulich is now offering barge supply of IFO 380 cSt and 180 cSt and MGO in Djibouti. Service is provided from two barges, one of 3,500 cu m capacity and one of 1,000 cu m capacity. The larger barge delivers all three grades of fuel, whereas the other is a dedicated MGO barge.

ASIA

Singapore extends port fee concessions
Singapore’s bunker tanker fleet will benefit from an extension of a port dues concession brought in to help tide the shipping industry through the economic downturn.

The government has announced an extension of 10% port dues concession for all ocean-going ships with a port stay of not more than 10 days and 20% port dues concession for harbour craft engaged in commercial activities within Singapore port waters for another six months, from 1 April to 30 September this year. The measure was initially brought in on 1 April last year.

AMERICAS

New barge for CEPSA
CEPSA Panama’s new barge, Panabunker-Once, began operations on the Atlantic side of the Panama canal in January. The vessel will serve the container terminal at the Port of Manzanillo, all other port terminals along the Atlantic sector and the anchorage area of Port of Cristobal.

The Panabunker-Once is a double-hull barge with a capacity of 4,100 tonnes. Together with the Panabunker-Diez and the Panabunker-Uno on the Pacific coast, this brings CEPSA’s capacity at the Panama canal to some 11,000 tonnes. “With this investment, CEPSA Panama is not only reinforcing its commitment towards reliability, quality, versatility and timely responsiveness but also towards compliance of future regulations, thereby guaranteeing the delivery of a premium customer service,” said a company statement.

BI to supply LSFO in Cartagena
Bunkers International is to offer 1% IFO 380 in Cartagena, Colombia, from July. In collaboration with its joint venture partner, Vanoil, the company is in the final testing stages of an IFO 380 cSt product with a maximum sulphur content of 1% for delivery in the Colombian bunker market.

It says the new product will have viscosity levels in the range of 300-380 cSt, with very low metal contents, and all other parameters well within ISO RMG.380 (2005)

“We believe the availability of this product will be of great interest to vessels travelling to Europe from the Caribbean basin,” said John Canal, president of Bunkers International. “Shipowners can obtain the low-sulphur fuel they need to meet emerging regulations and then can do so while receiving the same high-quality service we have become known for. In fact, we also offer a full service and fees inclusive ‘bunkers-only’ call to the Cartagena anchorage that should add to the appeal of this product. We will continue to provide our 1.5% max sulphur 380 cSt for customers not requiring the 1% product.”

EUROPE

New markets boost Aegean sales
Aegean saw a successful 2009, with a net income increase of 21.6% and sales up 19.1% over the course of the year. Total sales volumes for 2009 were 6.2 million tonnes, with EBITDA of $806 million. In addition, the company signed a $154 million credit facility in the final quarter of 2009.

Results for the fourth quarter showed an increase in total revenue of 53.7% over the same period in 2008. Sales volumes were up by 11.4% in this period. This increase was principally due to an improvement in sales volumes in the UAE and Singapore and the expanded logistics infrastructure during the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the fourth quarter of 2008, Aegean said.

Refuelling tanker launched at Fincantieri
Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano has launched the first of two fleet tankers for the Indian Navy, with delivery scheduled by the end of the year.
The fleet tanker is a supply and logistic support vessel with a displacement at full load of 27,500 tonnes capable of refuelling four vessels at once. It has a maximum speed of 20 knots. A sister vessel is under construction at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente (Genoa) shipyard for delivery in late 2011.

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

Orion builds for Karachi
Pakistani-based Orion Bunkers says it is building a bunker barge for the delivery of IFO 380 cSt to at Port Karachi and Port Bin Qasim. The new vessel will have a capacity of 600-700 tonnes and will be completed in summer 2010. The newbuilding will give Orion a fleet of seven self-propelled barges, which the company says will be the biggest fleet in Pakistan.

In the meantime, Orion says it will supply IFO 180 cst at a lower price than the local price for 380 cSt. The company says its move could boost bunker sales in Pakistan.

ON THE MOVE

New event manager for IBIA

Charlotte Egan, Event Manager, IBIA

IBIA has appointed a new event manager with a specific brief to strengthen its outreach on social networks and e-platforms and improve communication with members. Charlotte Egan joined IBIA’s Southampton-based team at the end of April.

Charlotte says: “My first and most important role will be to build on the success of IBIA’s two flagship events, its annual Convention and Dinner. I’m also tasked to ensure that IBIA is properly represented at all bunker industry events. My job will be to put in place the tools which will help members interact more easily and the association to interact more easily with other shipping industry and political stakeholders.”

Ian Adams says: “We welcome Charlotte to IBIA. Her experience will help us build on the successful association and the events we already have, and to further strengthen that by using new media and networking. So far, shipping has not embraced social networking as much as other industries, but a global association in a global business must surely benefit from enhanced linking up of members and interested parties. Charlotte will help us bring people together, in the traditional way, and online, hopefully showing the shipping industry a lead in this area. Exploiting the power of the internet can help the association to grow its membership and expand its sphere of influence.”

Charlotte has six years’ experience in events management and marketing, commencing with working on cruise vessels for the Carnival Group, then working for the Royal Automobile Club, a life sciences company and the University of Southampton, where she helped promote a multi-disciplinary maritime group.

Peninsula opens Norway office
Peninsula Petroleum has opened an office in Tønsberg, Norway. Led by Bjorn Isaksen, the office handles a portfolio comprising Scandinavian owners and operators of deep sea dry bulk and tanker tonnage plus players in the offshore sector working in the North Sea and the wider international arena. He is assisted by one trader in the Norwegian office.

Holloway moves to GAC
Dubai-based Global Agency Company, GAC, has appointed industry veteran Colin Holloway to head its bunker operations in the Middle East Gulf. Most recently he has been DNV Petroleum Services’ regional manager, Middle East & East Africa based in Fujairah. Anthony Mollet, general manager of GAC Bunker Fuels, says: “We are looking forward to working with Colin and his team to further enhance GAC’s long-standing relationships with suppliers and customers across the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent.”

He adds: “GAC’s expertise and focus on the wide range of shipping sectors operating in the Gulf and Indian Ocean ensures personalised customer care for all bunker enquiries. And with Colin joining the team, planned growth and diversification of GAC Bunker Fuels’ services will be further developed within its strongest region.”

KPI expands London trading team
KPI Bridge Oil has appointed Guillermo Sanchez as bunker trader in its London office. He previously worked in KPI’s operations department. Andreas Johansen has been taken on as a bunker trader trainee.

Wilhelmsen moves broking team
Wilhelmsen Ships Service in the UK has incorporated its wholly owned subsidiary Wilhelmsen Premier Marine Fuels (WPMF) into its main operating centre in Dartford, London.

The company claims the move “further enhances the company’s ability to serve customers and deliver additional cost efficiencies”. It adds that the move of the London brokerage office to Wilhelmsen Ships Service’s premises represents a greater consolidation of the broad range of ships agency and bunker services that Wilhelmsen Ships Service offers to its customers from the London location.

UBT on the move
Singapore-based trader United Bunkering & Trading (Asia) has moved to new, larger premises as part of a move, it says, to intensify its business in the Asia Pacific Region.

UBT’s second office in Hong Kong has strengthened its physical supply capabilities in the region recently and the company says it intends to further increase delivered volume by another 30%.

UBT’s new Singapore head office is at 8 Shenton Way, on the 49th floor, and its new address is:
8 Shenton Way, #49-01 Singapore 068811.