German energy company Uniper has declared force majeure on bunker fuel supply from its 67,000 b/d topping refinery at the UAE port of Fujairah on the back of widespread flooding that has disrupted operations at the world’s third largest marine fuels hub since last week.
2 August 2022
Uniper, a major supplier in the local bunker market, has notified buyers of its very low-sulphur fuel oil that the situation constitutes a force majeure event and that it is “excused from any non-performance under the contract”. Fellow bunker supplier and terminal operator GPS Chemoil has also declared force majeure after its facilities were flooded.
Several barges have lined up at terminals in Fujairah waiting for loadings to resume. Trading firm Vitol is understood to have restarted limited loading but conditions are still not stable, according to market participants.
“It will take time for the backlog to clear and any vessel that arrived recently will either wait or sail out to return for lifting bunker fuel later,” a Fujairah trader said.
A major bunker supplier that had planned to resume deliveries on 10 August is now giving 15 August as the earliest restart date.
By Elshan Aliyev
Related: Argus Media: Floods shut Fujairah port, bunkering operations
Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 3 August, 2022
Transferred shares of 40 subsidiaries to BVI firm after tribunal awarded claims in favour of Trinity Seatrading; YSPL has also filed a civil complaint against DNV and Liberian ship registry at Nanjing Maritime Court.
ADNOC L&S, Gulf Energy Maritime, Cockett Marine Oil, Mideast/Bahri Ship Management and VPS experts present their views on biofuel bunker hurdles at the VPS Biofuels Seminar in Dubai on 16 March.
‘Bunker barges operate in very local areas so these vessels call at port very often which means it will be a good fit for women with families,’ states Elpi Petraki, President of WISTA International.
“Our Singapore branch is under preparation and is expected to start business at the republic before June 2023,” Managing Director Darcy Wong tells bunkering publication Manifold Times in an interview.
Development to supply B35 biodiesel blend officially takes effect on 1 February; local bunker suppliers will be able to deliver updated spec within March onwards, once current stocks of B30 avails run out.
VPS, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, Wilhelmsen Ship Management, and INTERTANKO executives offered a multitude of perspectives to 73 attendees during the VPS Biofuels Seminar, reports Manifold Times.