---

O.W. Icebunker Ltd. A/S, part of the O.W. Bunker Group, one of the world’s leading suppliers and traders of marine fuel products and services, today announced the commissioning and deployment of two new barges to the Pacific Ocean to meet the increase in demand for high seas bunkering.

The move comes as more vessels turn to high seas bunkering as a means of increasing efficiencies by avoiding deviation from their routes to re-fuel, as well as improving profitability through the reduction of in-port costs.

The two new barges, M/T Otilia and M/T O.W. Las Palmas are now operating in the Pacific Ocean off the South American coastline from Panama to Chile. Otilia is a 8828 dwt vessel and O.W. Las Palmas is 6985 dwt.

Both vessels are double-hulled, with fast pumping rates of 600 cub/hour ensuring a quick supply of fuel oil, which include all grades of quality IFO products, as well as MGO DMA.

Delivery can be taken with the barge and the customer’s vessel side by side, or if waters are rough supply is provided via stern-line to guarantee safety.

O.W. Icebunker says it has seen an exponential increase in demand for its high seas bunkering services throughout the course of the year. While the company has serviced the global fishing fleet since its conception, its customer base now comprises of a large amount of VLCCs, container vessels, bulk carriers, tankers and reefers, all of which are taking the opportunity to take on bunkers in a safe and reliable way while maintaining their course. As well as increasing efficiencies, customers also save on in-port costs including pilotage, port fees, agency costs as well as tug usage; they are also guaranteed product availability, ensuring a reliability of service.

Commenting on the announcement, Per Funch-Nielsen, managing director, O.W. Icebunker, said: “On the back of the global economic downturn, the requirement for ship operators to drive efficiencies has become even more paramount as a means of remaining competitive and increasing profitability.

Taking bunkers while at sea can save days in time that would be otherwise spent going into port, where they also face increasing costs, and potentially further delays waiting for the right product to be made available. High seas bunkering avoids this, and it is a clear example of how O.W. Bunker is committed to providing its customers with innovative bunkering solutions that fundamentally gives them flexibility within the running of their operations.”