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Italy-based bunker supplier Maxcom Bunker S.p.A. has announced that newly-formed company Deutsche Maxcom GmbH is to commence supply operations in the port of Hamburg from February 2nd.

Maxcom said it will operate at the Holborn refinery in Hamburg and will be able to offer low sulphur 380-centistoke (cst) - both 1 and 1.5 percent sulphur - marine diesel oil (MDO) with 1.5 percent sulphur content and marine gasoil (MGO) with 0.1 percent sulphur.

Speaking to Bunker Index, bunker trader Alberto Pampaloni said Maxcom will charter barges from local operators and deliveries will be carried out at Hamburg, Elbe ports, Cuxhaven, Kiel, Lubeck, Weser ports, Wilhelmshaven and Emden.

The news effectively represents a return to the German market for Maxcom following the decision to close its operations in Hamburg in 2005.

Experienced bunker professional Malte Ehmcke, will head the company's office in Hamburg, having previously worked as Maxcom's representative in Germany up until the office was closed three years ago.

Ehmcke has also been employed at Delta Energy and Bominflot Bunkergesellschaft mbH & Co. KG.

Maxcom Energy S.p.A. was formed in November 2001 after Maxcom Petroli and Delta Energy joined forces to form the largest independent supplier in Italy.

Maxcom Petroli had been involved in bunkering in Italy for almost 15 years, building up a strong presence in Genoa, Augusta, Venice and Trieste. Delta Energy also had a strong presence in Italy as well as interests in Malta, Suez and Hamburg.

Present-day supplier Maxcom Energy S.p.A. remains active in a number of areas previously developed by both Maxcom Petroli and Delta Energy, including Genoa, Augusta, Venice, Trieste, Malta and Suez. The company is also an important player in Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.