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Gazpromneft Marine Bunker, operator of Gazprom Neft's bunkering business, reports that it sold 3.7 million tonnes of marine fuel in 2015, including 3.1 million tonnes of 'on-board' sales.

The Russian firm says that it has been implementing strategic projects aimed at improving the quality of its logistics and services, and the development of its own bunkering fleet and terminal facilities.

Gazpromneft Marine Bunker reports that it had a 21 percent share of Russia's bunkering market at the end of 2015.

In Northwest Russia, Gazpromneft Marine Bunker says it has gained a 20 percent share of the ultra-low-sulphur fuel oil (ULSFO) market following the implementation of the 0.1 percent sulpur limit in Emission Contol Areas (ECAs) at the start of 2015.

Gazpromneft Marine Bunker CEO, Andrei Vasiliev, stated: "Optimizing the supply chain, development of terminal facilities and providing high standards of customer service are main principles of our company's business. In 2016 our strategic initiatives will also include works on the LNG bunkering vessel project, company's promotion on the ULSFO market as well as supplying of vessels transporting oil from Gazprom Neft's Arctic oilfields."

The company has also strengthened its delivery infrastructure in the Black Sea region. The 5,372-deadwight-tonne (dwt) Gazpromneft Omsk was acquired last year for deployment in Novorossiysk. It is the third in Gazpromneft Marine Bunker's Black Sea fleet. Work has also been carried out on the modernization of the company's transshipment facilities in order to expand the zone for loading and unloading, double the tank farm's receiving capacity, and improve energy efficiency and safety.

Last month, the company confirmed that it recorded a rise in marine fuel sales of 22 percent in 2015 throughout the Black Sea ports of Novorossiysk, Tuapse, Sochi, Taman, Kavkaz and Temryuk, with total sales of 795,000 tonnes.