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Noble Bunkers has begun operating as a physical bunker supplier in the Gulf of Mexico.

The company's bunker tanker, the Marida Mistletoe [pictured], carried out its first delivery on Jun 13 at the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP).

The bunker tanker, which has been taken on long-term time charter, has a deadweight of 13,114 tonnes and a length overall (LOA) of 128.60 metres.

The company is offering the following grades of fuel to customers:

* RMG380 with a maximum sulphur content of 3.5% and meeting ISO 8217 (2010 Edition) marine fuel standards.

* RMG380 with a maximum sulphur content of 1.0% and meeting ISO 8217 (2010 Edition) marine fuel standards.

* Marine Gas Oil (DMA) with a maximum sulphur content of 0.1% and meeting ISO 8217 (2010 Edition) marine fuel standards.

According to Noble, it is the only supplier in the local market offering three different fuel grades.

Operating in international waters, off both the Texas and Louisiana coastlines, the new service is aimed towards tanker fleets operating in the area, enabling them to avoid costly deviations and port calls to other bunker locations.

Noble is able to support the following standard delivery locations.

Offshore Galveston - 28-40 N 094-40 W

South Sabine Point - 28-40 N 093-30 W

Off South West Pass - 28-23 N 090-36 W

Offshore LOOP - 28-47 N 090-00 W

Noble began operating as a physical supplier of marine fuel in South East Asia in September 2010. The company supplies RMG380, RMK500 and DMA in both Singapore and Tanjung Pelepas.