Maersk and Vopak sign joint initiative on compliant fuel
The move comes against a backdrop of growing concern amongst ship operators over suitable fuel availability in key locations.
A Maersk statement said that “this first joint initiative … will cater for circa 20% of Maersk global demand, enabling A.P. Moller-Maersk to deliver approximately 2.3 million tonnes per year”. However, a Maersk spokesperson was unable to confirm how much of this volume would cater for Maersk’s own requirements, and how much would be available for third parties.
Niels Henrik Lindegaard, head of Maersk Oil Trading, said: “We trust that this initiative will put to rest some of the concerns the industry has on fuel availability as well as secure our continued competitiveness in the market.”
Vopak itself is making preparations for January 2020 when the IMO’s new sulphur limits enter force. The company is upgrading its Europoort facility in Rotterdam by converting approximately 500,000m3 of capacity to store and handle low sulphur fuel. The project will be completed in the second half of 2019 when ship operators have been advised to begin switching to new low-sulphur fuels, ahead of the end-of-year deadline.
