Asia/Pacific News
Two New Zealand Tankers Promise 25 Percent Bunker Savings
New Zealand-based Coastal Oil Logistics Limited (COLL) has chartered two new tankers that claim to increase fuel efficiency by 25 percent, Z Energy announced last week in a statement.
Z Energy, along with three other fuel companies, are reportedly shareholders in COLL, with the latter responsible for transporting petroleum products from a refinery at Marsden Point to New Zealand's ports.
The first of the two new ships, a 50,000 DWT fuel products tanker, is expected to be delivered in February 2016, while the second, a 50,000 DWT fuel products and bitumen tanker, is expected to be delivered in June 2017.
"Our rough calculation suggests that the fuel efficiency savings from the new vessels versus the next best available ship will translate to a reduction of 11,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, per ship for the industry," said Z Energy's sustainability manager, Gerri Ward.
"For Z, this represents a 10 percent reduction in carbon emissions from our downstream distribution activities in New Zealand, and is another step in the right direction."
The two unnamed tankers will reportedly replace two existing vessels that have been in service for eight years or more.
"The fuel consumption savings made from the new ships will actually offset the higher upfront cost of building a new ship, and in fact work out to be more economic over time," Ward said.
The two new ships will also reportedly allow for better safety management such as standard maintenance and training.
Late last year, it was reported that several hundred litres of fuel were spilled at the Marsden Point facility when a crude oil tanker was attempting to deliver its cargo.
