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Leading bunker supplier Chemoil has announced that it has chartered a second tanker to meet increased customer demand for offshore deliveries in the Gulf of Mexico.

At 36,000 deadweight tonnes (dwt), the Nordic Ruth is almost double the size of the original vessel the MY Atlantic, which currently operates in the area. The two tankers will work in tandem to significantly increase supplies at key locations including, but not limited to, Offshore Galveston, Texas and the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP).

Built in 2000, the double-hulled Nordic Ruth will be fully equipped to deliver bunker fuel via Ship-to-Ship (STS) operations. With a combined capacity of over 50,000 dwt, Chemoil will be able to carry out an increased number of voyages each month, raise available tonnage and ensure that there is always at least one vessel at sea to make deliveries.

Chemoil's Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Adrian Tolson said the supply of marine fuels in the Gulf of Mexico provided customers with an alternative to making time-consuming and costly voyage deviations to traditional supply locations in the Caribbean.

The Nordic Ruth will be operational in the second half of July 2008.

The expansion of Chemoil's fleet in the Gulf of Mexico follows last week's announcement that the company had taken delivery of its third barge, the Heredia Sea, to support growing operations in Fujairah. Chemoil now operates three dedicated barges for the delivery of marine fuel at the Middle East's largest bunker port.

With sales volumes in Fujairah rising to almost 100,000 metric tons in May 2008, Chemoil says it now has ambitions to double this figure going forward. The company also has a construction program underway to expand its GPSChemoil terminal in Fujairah, further underscoring its emphasis on physical supply within the region.