“EM SPLENDOUR” starts operations as a Floating Storage Unit (FSU) for low sulphur fuel.
Singapore bunker supplier Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services Pte Ltd (EMF) has made ready the recently purchased EM Splendour to start supporting its Singapore bunkering operations in September 2019, it says.
The 20-year old 280,000 dwt VLCC was bought by the company earlier in the year and efforts were made to restore and repurpose the vessel into a fully operational Floating Storage Unit (FSU).
“Among several modifications carried out to prepare the ship for her new role as an FSU is the installation of heating equipment to facilitate oil blending operations,” Choong Zhen Mao, Executive Director, at EMF tells Manifold Times.
“The purpose of purchasing the FSU is to prepare the company for IMO 2020 by providing a consistent and reliable source of low sulphur cargo supply for our clients.”
Choong, meanwhile, highlighted that the successful operation of the FSU for supporting marine refuelling operations relies on the respective parties collaborating closely with each other, each contributing their own specialised expertise and qualities.
“In order to ensure maximum synergy, one of our main consideration is to find and work with parties that have a consistent stream of quality products and find value in utilising our output capabilities,” he explains.
“With that intention, EMF has entered into strategic partnerships with Petro Summit and has also leased our storage capacity to P66 who has system cargoes that are inherently low in sulphur.”
Oliver Imaizumi, Deputy General Manager of Petro Summit, welcomes the arrangement.
“To date, Petro Summit has been engaged in the bunkering business for 66 years and we will like to continue this activity following IMO 2020 as a solution provider for end users,” he said.
“Cargo flows of 0.50% sulphur limit marine fuels are currently not constant; therefore, it makes sense to have sufficient capacity for immediate storage whenever we are able to find cargoes.”
“Having secured the storage on EM Splendour allows Petro Summit to continue this business.”
From 1 January 2020, the limit for sulphur in fuel oil used on board ships operating outside designated emission control areas will be reduced to 0.50% m/m (mass by mass).