BP Marine, a subsidiary of international oil major BP, and Salalah Port Services (SPS) have signed an exclusive fuel supply agreement to provide a marine bunker refueling service from Oman’s most southerly Indian Ocean port.
The agreement is subject to the approval of various authorities, for permissions to import fuel, conduct marine refueling operations in Omani waters and implementing environmentally acceptable procedures and precautions. The company aims to have the service operational from early 2002.
“Salalah Port occupies a strategic location on the busy east-west Indian Ocean shipping lane and potentially will be a key source of bunker fuels for all maritime trade in the area. It will be especially attractive to those liner services that trade between Rotterdam in the west and Singapore to the east. For many lines it will be more economical to refuel during the voyage as carrying less fuel will enable them to carry additional cargos,” commented Considine.
Considine added that BP Marine is finalizing negotiations to charter a 35,000 ton tanker and two refueling barges according to its exacting specifications to ensure maximum safety and efficiency for the service. Fuel supplies will be available in three main grades to vessels whilst at berth at Salalah Port as well as at anchorage. Helton said that refueling at Salalah would be effective for transiting the region and as there is also little pilotage time involved.
Salalah had rapidly grown to a million-plus TEU containers per year port. Currently Salalah is ranked 13th in the world in transhipment terms for the year 2000. Salalah’s soon to open free zone will further the growth of shipping to and via the port.
BP Marine is marine bunker supplier of marine with operations in most of the major bunker ports around the globe. In addition to fuel supplies, BP Marine is also the world’s largest marine lubricants supplier. — (menareport.com)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
