GREEK ENERGY and shipping conglomerate, Aegean, an industry leader with a rapidly growing international business in the marine fuels and lubricants sector over the past 15 years, has selected Kingston as the station from which to launch its international marine bunkering services and operations in the Western Hemisphere.
Petrojam, Jamaica's energy company, has also been selected as the supplier of marine fuel to Aegean's international
shipping industry clients and operators of oceangoing vessels.
Bunkers are currently being delivered from three locations in the Port of Kingston. The joint operation for barge and offshore bunkers, commenced on March 1, with two Aegean-owned vessels, the 6500 DWT Aegean X and the 3000 DWT Aegean Tiffany. A third Aegean vessel will be added shortly. Barge bunkers are handled by Petrojam, operating the company-owned 25,000 barrel, Petrojam Barge #1.
The products, services and bunkering experience offered by Petrojam were key factors in the decision taken by Aegean to locate their marine services station in Kingston.
SUPERIOR MARINE FUELS
Petrojam's competitive pricing, quality control standards, superior marine fuels, all of which meet international ISO requirements, impacted positively and favourably in the Aegean review of the Kingston location. In addition, Jamaica's central location in the hemisphere, its perfect natural harbour and ideal year-round weather conditions were important benefits, vital to a safe operation.
Aegean expressed confidence that its customers' vessels could sail into the Port of Kingston and receive fuel and other supplies at this station, under the safest conditions at the most competitive prices. In addition, Petrojam offers the full range of fuel distillates, facilitating Aegean's ability to bunker all sizes and types of vessels.
Bunkers constitute almost 50 per cent of a shipping company's operational costs and the purchase and delivery of fuel is a complex service, requiring meticulous attention to detail and significant operational experience.
Importantly, customers seeking fuel must be assured of excellent product quality, as substandard fuel can cause major damage to a ship, resulting in costly repairs, loss of freight
revenues and operational time.
COMPETITIVE PRICES
Shipping customers must not only constantly seek competitive fuel prices from supplier companies, but the supplier must also offer safe and reliable delivery of the fuel, using compatible equipment. The fuel supplier must also be available to respond promptly, regardless of the calling time of the vessel into port.
Aegean anticipates a boom in the company's bunkering and shipping business, and the establishment of its Kingston bunkering station is a part of its preparation for this boom. Aegean has also purchased 15 new double hull oil product tankers, soon to be delivered from China's ship builders, the Southeast Shipyards of Fujian Company, to boost its worldwide shipping operations.
Kingston is Aegean's fourth international station, and only station in the Western Hemisphere. Other Aegean stations are located in the Mediterranean in Pireaus, Greece; Gibraltar and Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. A fifth Aegean bunkering station, located in Istanbul, Turkey, is in the final stages of preparation.
