New tanker offers Ak-based re-fuelling service

27 March 2009
SEAFUELS MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

New tanker offers Auckland-based re-fuelling service

Seafuels, a joint venture company between Ports of Auckland and Pacific Basin, one of the world’s leading shipping companies, has contracted with Shell New Zealand to provide a new tanker for re-fuelling cruise ships and commercial vessels in the Auckland area.

The tanker has state-of-the-art operational and environmental design features, including a double hull construction. She will arrive in Auckland in June after her maiden voyage from Turkey.

The 80-metre tanker, with a capacity of 25,000 barrels of oil, will load fuel at the Marsden Point refinery.

Seafuels Chairman and Ports of Auckland Managing Director Jens Madsen said the tanker was an essential purchase that would benefit the Auckland economy.

“Offering re-fuelling services in Auckland is vital to retaining and growing the number of calls from international cruise ships,” Mr Madsen said.

“Most cruise ships only carry two weeks of fuel and the ability to access re-fuelling services in Auckland is essential to ensuring they continue to call here.”

“We look forward to offering our customers a seamless fuel supply chain.”

The economic impact of each cruise ship call on the Auckland region has been estimated at more than a million dollars.

“The tanker’s arrival is also good news for vessels trading in the Pacific Islands, as re-fuelling in the Islands can be expensive and restrictive at times,” Mr Madsen said.

The tanker replaces an older vessel, theTolema.

Pacific Basin sees the new tanker as a logical development of their towage business and general activity in New Zealand.

“This contract provides long term, stable earnings and boosts the scale of our PB Sea-Tow operation,” said Ian Dalgleish, Managing Director of PB Towage.

“Pacific Basin is all about working with first class customers and like-minded partners who appreciate what we do and the equipment we do it with. This is a high-end ship that will be managed by our experienced Auckland team. Combine this with relationship-based contracts and it is a business that makes a lot of sense to Pacific Basin.”

The tanker, which is owned by Seafuels, is under time charter to Shell New Zealand. Potential customers should contact their local Shell Marine Products representative fuels team for any future bunkering requirements in Auckland.

ENDS

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