Stefka Wechsler of the global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus Media on Tuesday (20 October) published a summary of John W. Stone Oil Distributor’s decision to foray into the offshore Texas bunker market as well as how the company plans to ensure the quality of its services in the area:
Marine fuel supplier John W. Stone Oil Distributor has entered the offshore Texas bunker market by offering very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and marine gasoil (MGO).
The company employs its articulated tug/barge Gulf Venture/Gulf Carrier at fairway anchorages and lightering zones. The Jones Act-compliant barge, built in 2016, can carry just over 83,000 bl of fuel and has four pumps and oil heaters.
The company already supplies VLSFO, MGO and high-sulphur fuel oil throughout the Mississippi river and elsewhere along the US Gulf of Mexico and fully owns and operates 42 barges, the largest bunker barge fleet in the region.
The company saw a slowdown in vessel traffic on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic and related containment measures, and subsequently a drop in bunker demand at New Orleans, Louisiana.
There has been a slight uptick in demand recently, but it is the seasonal rise the company expected, chief operating officer Tony Odak told Argus. This demand increase has been more than offset by the addition of several new physical supply competitors to the market as well as the average bunker lots sizes decreasing because of shipowner credit issues, vessels changing the port of their call and compatibility of existing fuel onboard with newly arriving fuel.
There has been a rise in the use of re-refined lube oil as a blendstock for VLSFO by several other suppliers, which has gained traction in a cost-conscious environment. John W. Stone does not use it, Odak said.
The company is also testing an electronic declaration of inspection (DOI) document, metering and invoicing system. DOI is required by the US Coast Guard to be completed by the receiving vessels prior to fueling. The electronic system will allow the company to communicate directly with a vessel’s crew to sign a DOI, accept meter results and provide ship certification of products and or services delivered.
If a vessel is fueled by noon, an invoice with all the electronic documentation can be vetted and transmitted to the buyer the same day, the company said.
Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 21 October, 2020
‘We are not the largest marine fuels supplier in this great shipping hub; surely, our personal relations play a big part of the increasing demand for our solutions,’ said Manager.
A major contributing factor is longer than expected fuel storage times, thanks to the Covid-19 slowdown in bunker deliveries, writes CEO Ralph Lewis.
Current low bunker price environment and high tanker rates are temporary and once the situation normalises, more attention will go to increasing voyage earnings.
Mining firm received the ‘Wind Propulsion Innovation Award’ presented by the International Windship Association in Glasgow, Scotland, at a COP 26 side event.
Due to ban of Qatar Petroleum vessels from using Fujairah as a bunkering location, says Chief Executive.
Port recorded bunker sales of 974,000 mt in 2016; 775,000 mt in 2017; and even lower volume in 2018.
Program introduces periodic assessments, mass flow metering data analysis, and regular training for relevant key personnel to better handle the MFMS to ensure a high level of continuous operational competency.
U.S. Claims Register Summary recorded a total USD 833 million claim from a total 180 creditors against O.W. Bunker USA, according to the creditor list seen by Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.
Glencore purchased fuel through Straits Pinnacle which contracted supply from Unicious Energy. Contaminated HSFO was loaded at Khor Fakkan port and shipped to a FSU in Tanjong Pelepas, Malaysia to be further blended.
Individuals were employees of surveying companies engaged by Shell to inspect the volume of oil loaded onto the vessels which Shell supplied oil to; they allegedly accepted bribes totalling at least USD 213,000.
MPA preliminary investigations revealed that the affected marine fuel was supplied by Glencore Singapore Pte Ltd who later sold part of the same cargo to PetroChina International (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
‘MPA had immediately contacted the relevant bunker suppliers to take necessary steps to ensure that the relevant batch of fuel was no longer supplied. Further investigations are currently on-going,’ it informs.
