Cepsa First Strait of Gibraltar Bunker Supplier with MFM-Equipped Barges

Cepsa says it has become the first bunker supplier in the Strait of Gibraltar to install MFMs on its barges.

Compañía Española de Petróleos, S.A.U. (Cepsa) says it has become the first bunker supplier in the Strait of Gibraltar to install mass flow meters (MFMs) on its barges.

The company says that it has installed Promass flow meters, supplied by Endress+Hauser, on two of its barges so far, with the remainder of its entire Bay of Gibraltar fleet set to receive the systems in the coming months.

Cepsa notes that it also intends to extend this system to its supplies in other ports, including Barcelona, Las Palmas, Tenerife, Huelva, and Gibraltar.

"Having a technology that allows an absolutely precise fuel supply is a priority for our Company," said Alberto Martínez-Lacaci, the Manager of Cepsa's Bunker Unit.

"We have opted for a pioneering system in order to offer our clients a supply based on transparency and the trust that they place on our products and operations."

Cepsa says the MFM installations not only ensure accurate quantities are delivered, but also reduce supply operation times by as much as three hours.

"The new technology, based on the Coriolis effect, enables the amount of fuel to be supplied to be determined by mass. This in turn avoids calculations being made from measurements by volume corrected by its density and temperature, and also eliminates the possible effect that the presence of air in the flow could have," explained the company.

The MFM equipment is noted to be calibrated, certified, and sealed in line with Directive 2014/32/EU (MID) to ensure integrity and reliability.

In September, Ship & Bunker reported that Cepsa, as part of the European Commission (EC) supported Core LNGas Hive initiative, would operate the first multi-product barge in Europe, which will supply ships with liquefied natural gas (LNG).