VIVA Energy has confirmed it will soon be offering seaborne bunkering services in the port of Brisbane, in a significant development for the region’s fuel oil market.
The move will see Viva Energy transfer bunker tanker ICS Allegiance, owned by ship managers Inco Ships, from the Melbourne/Geelong region to Brisbane, where it will provide the company’s bunkering services.
The oil and gas supplier, which is licensed to use the Shell brand in Australia, is set to begin its bunker trading services in Brisbane starting February.
Viva Energy confirmed it will be supplying Marine Fuel Oil (MFO), Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), and Marine Gas Oil (MGO) via its terminal at Pinkenba.
The expansion is in addition to Viva Energy’s network of more than 20 marine refuelling facilities around Australia.
Speaking to DCN, a spokesperson for Viva Energy commented on the move, saying “What this will mean for the port of Brisbane is enhanced capability for port customers”.
“Greater flexibility, contingency, and redundancy are the key things we’ll be bringing.”
It is understood that INCO recently acquired a larger bunker tanker Marine Explorer (9956721), now renamed ICS Tenacious, to serve the Melbourne/Geelong region.
ICS Tenacious departed China’s Jiangyin port at the start of the month, and is scheduled to arrive in Geelong on the 23 January, according to MarineTraffic. Upon its commissioning ICS Allegiance will head north.
The ASX-listed Viva Energy was created in 2014 when its founder, Swiss-based Dutch multinational energy and commodity trader Vitol, acquired Shell’s downstream business in Australia.
Viva has a refinery in Geelong, and declares to be the largest supplier of marine fuels in Australia. The company also supplies aviation fuel to airports across the country.
According to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), while there are 15 companies able to supply fuel oil in the Brisbane region, only BP and Lowes BP are listed as able to deliver fuel via bunker barge.
Viva’s expansion would therefore see it become the second bunker trader able to deliver by barge.
