Tue 19 Apr 2011, 06:34 GMT

Aegean to launch bunker service in Panama


Aegean Marine Petroleum expects to commence supply operations in Panama by the end of Q2 2011.



Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. has announced it has been awarded a 20-year concession by the Panamanian Maritime Authority (PMA) to operate onshore storage facilities in the ports of Cristobal and Balboa in Panama.

The award is subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions by the company and completion of definitive documentation with the appropriate Panamanian authorities.

In addition, the company says it has been pursuing the necessary approvals and, subject to receipt of such approvals, expects to commence physical supply operations in both Cristobal and Balboa by the end of the second quarter of 2011.

The port of Cristobal and the port of Balboa are strategically positioned at each end of the Panama Canal, a critical conduit for international maritime trade that connects the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Both ports total approximately 14,000 transits per year and generate approximately 3 million metric tons of annual marine fuel sales volumes on a combined basis.

The concession with Aegean is part of the PMA's efforts to expand and modernize the ports' infrastructure and services consistent with the current expansion of the Panama Canal. By 2014, the Panama Canal is expected to significantly increase its capacity, enabling larger ships to transit and providing greater efficiencies in global commerce.

The two onshore storage facilities in Panama currently total approximately 3 million barrels in capacity, with room for expansion. Aegean says it intends to provide retail bunkering services to all major shipping sectors, particularly containerships, as well as leading cruise lines, in port and at sea after receiving the necessary licenses by the local authorities.

Commenting on the news, E. Nikolas Tavlarios, President, commented, "We are excited to have been awarded a long-term concession in Panama, a landmark event for our company that is testament to Aegean's global brand recognition and balance sheet strength. By establishing a presence on both ends of the world's most famous canal, Aegean has significantly expanded its network for the global supply of marine fuel and strengthened its future growth prospects. We expect to realize numerous benefits from Panama's increasing role in global maritime trade in light of the projected expansion of the Panama Canal.

"The growing Panama market combined with the sizeable onshore storage capacity in the ports of Cristobal and Balboa position Aegean well to continue to meet the strong demand for its integrated services and profitably increase sales volumes. Consistent with our goal to further strengthen Aegean's geographical sales mix and drive future results, we remain on track to enter at least one more start-up market with attractive growth potential in 2011."


Oriental Aquamarine vessel. HMM deploys Korea's first MR tanker with wing sail technology  

Oriental Aquamarine equipped with wind-assisted propulsion system expected to cut fuel consumption by up to 20%.

BC Ferries vessel render. ABB to supply hybrid-electric propulsion for BC Ferries' four new vessels  

Technology will enable ferries to run on biofuel or renewable diesel with battery storage.

Alternative marine fuels port graphic. LNG-fuelled boxships sustain alternative fuel orderbook share despite market slowdown  

Alternative fuels maintained 38% of gross tonnage orders in 2025, driven by container segment.

Conceptual diagram of the MOL–ITOCHU strategic alliance. MOL and ITOCHU sign MoU for cross-industry environmental attribute certificate partnership  

Japanese shipping and trading firms to promote EACs for reducing Scope 3 emissions in transport.

CPN as China's No. 1 marine biofuel supplier in 2025 graphic. Chimbusco Pan Nation delivers 170,000 tonnes of marine biofuel in China in 2025  

Supplier says volumes quadrupled year on year, with a 6,300-tonne B24 operation completed during the period.

V.Group and Njord logo side by side. V.Group acquires Njord to expand decarbonisation services for shipowners  

Maritime services provider buys Maersk Tankers-founded green technology business to offer integrated fuel-efficiency solutions.

Container vessel manoeuvring in port. Has Zhoushan just become the world's third-largest bunker port?  

With 2025 sales of 8.03m tonnes for the Chinese port, Q4 data for Antwerp-Bruges will decide which location takes third place.

Monjasa Oil & Shipping Trainee (MOST) trainees. Monjasa opens applications for global trainee programme  

Marine fuel supplier seeks candidates for MOST scheme spanning offices from Singapore to New York.

Singapore's first fully electric harbour tug. Singapore's first fully electric tug completes commissioning ahead of April deployment  

PaxOcean and ABB’s 50-tonne bollard-pull vessel represents an early step in harbour craft electrification.

Fuel for thought: Hydrogen report cover. Lloyd's Register report examines hydrogen's potential and challenges for decarbonisation  

Classification society highlights fuel's promise alongside safety, infrastructure, and cost barriers limiting maritime adoption.





 Recommended