More Danish Diesel Storage Planned Ahead of 2015 Sulfur Rules

Frederikshavn is expected to be a focal point for the supply of diesel to ships

Frederikshavn Harbour and Nordic Marine Oil are building a 20,000 cubic meter tank farm at the Danish port to provide marine diesel to passing ships, Maritime Denmark reports.

The project is scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2014 in preparation for new rules on sulfur emissions in European Emission Control Areas (ECAs).

"Of course we are happy and proud that a company like Nordic Marine Oil chose Frederikshavn as a central repository for their future activities in Denmark," said port CEO Mikkel Sørensen Seedorff.

"Environment is a major focus area for Frederikshavn Harbor, and it is consistent with our strategy to get one of the major suppliers of marine diesel to place in Frederikshavn, as the market for marine diesel is expected to rise sharply in connection with the new and tighter rules on sulfur emissions, which comes into effect from January 1, 2015."

Nordic Marine Oil, a subsidiary of Malik Supply, supplies fuel in Skagen, Hirtshals, Hanstholm, Thyborøn, Hvide Sande, Esbjerg, and Gedser.

"Frederikshavn Harbor is extremely well located geographically and will be the focal point for supplies of petroleum products to vessels in and outside the harbor," said Nordic Marine Oil CEO Steen Møller.

"At the same time Frederikshavn [has an] optimal location as a transit warehouse for our storage facilities along the Danish west coast."

Nigel Draffin, chairman of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) said recently that demand for distillate fuel will rise when new ECA regulations take effect in 2015, but supply is not likely to become a serious problem until new global rules go into force in 2020.