Gothenburg Sees Bunkering "Like Never Before"

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday February 18, 2015

The Port of Gothenburg has seen record sales of Emissions Control Area (ECA) compliant fuels since January 1, PortNews reports.

"They are bunkering at the port like never before," said Dan-Erik Andersson, Head of Operations at the Gothenburg Energy Port.

"A combination of low oil prices, an advantageous geographical location, high oil quality and a focus on safety are attracting vessels here to fuel.

"We are a bunkering hub for the whole of the SECA [ECA] area."

According to the report, a large number of ships are calling to refuel and all parties are working to full capacity.

Much of the low-sulfur bunkers are loaded from the pipeline to bunkering vessels which then deliver to ships at anchor or at quayside.

The Port of Gothenburg, said to be the largest public energy port in the Nordic region, has dedicated a pipeline for carrying ECA compliant, low sulfur fuels.

"The vessels that bunker at the Port of Gothenburg can be secure in the knowledge that they have the correct sulphur content in the fuel," said Andersson.

"Ensuring that cleaner fuel has its own infrastructure is something we have developed together with the bunkering industry."

In January, bunker sales also rose at UK port Falmouth as shippers sought ECA compliant fuels, but reports suggest the rush has since subsided.