Vopak will cater to 20% of Maersk’s global LSFO demand

Danish business conglomerate A.P. Moller – Maersk and independent tank storage operator Royal Vopak Monday agreed to a joint initiative which will cater for circa 20% of Maersk global demand, enabling A.P. Moller – Maersk to deliver approximately 2.3 million metric tonnes (mt) of 0.5% sulphur limit marine fuels per year.

“We trust that this initiative will put to rest some of the concerns the industry has on fuel availability as well as secure our continued competitiveness in the market,” says Niels Henrik Lindegaard, Head of Maersk Oil Trading, a division of A.P. Moller – Maersk.

Vopak, in its recent half year 2018 financial report, said it is planning to invest in its Europoort terminal in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to support 0.5% low sulphur fuel oil bunkering.

Maersk says it will be an anchor tenant in Vopak’s modified facilities, which will allow other interested third parties to supply vessels trading with and inside Europe with compliant fuel.

The facility at Vopak Terminal Europoort allows A.P. Moller – Maersk to safely blend, store and handle different fuel types to ensure full compliance with the 0.5% sulphur cap.

“We are very proud to serve A.P. Moller – Maersk with this dedicated 0.5% sulphur bunkering point in the heart of Rotterdam,” says Hari Dattatreya, Global Oil Director Royal Vopak.

“With A.P. Moller – Maersk as an anchor customer, Vopak demonstrates the focus to position itself in the 0.5% sulphur fuels bunker market.

“We are dedicated to serve our customers to comply with the IMO 2020 regulations in the key global bunker hubs around the world.”

Related: Vopak readies storage avails for IMO 2020 0.5% sulphur cap

Photo credit: A.P. Moller – Maersk
Published: 21 August, 2018