Qatar Petroleum (QP) has started offering fuel oil bunkering facilities for every vessel lifting seaborne imports or exports at its Qatari ports.
The new bunkering operations have begun after garnering approval from all international maritime and safety standards.
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The first of several shipments of fuel oil intended for use during the bunkering processes has already arrived at the state-owned firm’s Ras Laffan anchorage.
Saudi Arabia and several other Gulf countries such as the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain have recently imposed sanctions to isolate Qatar as a reaction to the country's alleged funding of terrorism. However, Qatar maintains that it will not negotiate with its neighbours to resolve the dispute unless trade and travel sanctions are lifted, reported Reuters.
Qatar Petroleum president and CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said: “This is a first, and important, step towards self-reliance for fuel oil bunkering solutions for all vessels.
“Due to the unfortunate ongoing crisis, many of our clients were impacted by regional decisions limiting their ability to meet their commitments in a timely and cost-effective manner.
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By GlobalData"We took it upon ourselves to assist our clients overcome this challenge by introducing measures to ensure continuous and reliable energy supplies.”
It is expected that the temporary ship-to-ship fuel bunkering facility will meet clients’ safety and commercial expectations, and will continue until a permanent solution is implemented.
Qatar Petroleum is currently accelerating the progress of the studies and investments required to offer independent, safe, and reliable bunkering capabilities.
Customer requests for bunkering and operations will be managed in collaboration with WOQOD’s affiliate, WOQOD Marine.
WOQOD Marine will be responsible for the sale and delivery of fuel oil, utilising ship-to-ship transfer operations.
QP will serve most of the country’s LNG vessel fleet and offer the service to other clients, including Muntajat, Hamad Port and potential free-on-board (FOB) clients who load products such as crude oil, LPG, condensate and naphtha.
