EMEA News
IBIA to Help Develop South Africa Offshore Bunkering
The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) will work with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) to develop a bunkering code of practice allowing offshore bunkering, which is currently banned in the nation, IBIA said in an emailed press release.
SAMSA has granted provisional permission to Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. (Aegean) to deliver intermediate fuel oil (IFO) in Algoa Bay.
Under Aegean's plan, transfers would be conducted with a double hulled storage tanker and smaller double hulled tankers starting in the spring of 2014.
IBIA plans to use experience from the major bunkering ports of Gibraltar and Singapore, as well as input from local industry players, in developing the new code of practice.
"An IBIA working group will work hand in hand with SAMSA to produce a Code of Practice which will help South Africa develop a safe and commercially viable set of standards based on global best practice," said IBIA Chief Executive Peter Hall.
"We call on all interested parties, including refiners and shipowners to engage with the working group."
Hall said increased bunkering in South Africa would help port operations firms, oil producers, barging companies, and international bunker trading companies.
"The country is strategically very well located to handle vessels servicing the predicted increase in South American to Asia dry bulk trades as well as Asia to South America container traffic," he said.
Hall warned in August that South Africa's bunker industry was "on the verge of collapse" despite "enormous potential."
