---

UAE-headquartered Endofa DMCC has revealed that it is in the process of adding a further three tankers to its existing physical bunker supply operation in West Africa.

The first of the three vessels chartered by the company, the 13160 dwt MT Marida Mallow, has already arrived at its supply destination. It is fully equipped with fenders and hoses for bunkering and is expected to be loaded with intermediate fuel oil and marine gas oil (MGO) from the start of next week.

The other two tankers are expected to arrive in West Africa within the next six to eight weeks. Once fully operational, they will increase the size of the Endofa fleet to five tankers.

Speaking to Bunker Index, Babak Shahbaz, managing partner and senior bunker trader, said that the company expected sales volumes to increase from current levels of 25,000 tonnes per month to approximately 50,000 tonnes per month as a result of the expansion of its supply capacity.

Allan Frost, managing partner, remarked: "Since the beginning of our newly established company, we have been approached by several ship owners and bunker traders with fuel inquiries, and now we have the possibility to offer for all grades such as IFO 380, IFO 180 and MGO DMA – all products within the specifications of ISO 8217:2010."

Furthermore, as African trades are linked to and from ECA/SECA zones, the Endofa tankers will also be able to offer both high and low sulphur fuel, thus providing clients with the possibility to lift all the major grades required to operate their vessels.

Endofa was officially founded in November last year. Three of the company's four partners - Allan Frost, Mads Uldall Borggaard and Babak Shahbaz - are former employees of Danish bunker firm Monjasa A/S and based in Dubai, whilst the other, Kenn Søndergaard, runs operations in Houston.

In addition to acting as a physical bunker supplier, Endofa also operates as a bunker trader in other parts of the world.

The company's two tankers currently in operation, the MT Leon (IMO 9435844) and MT Namisa (IMO 9031492), have been principally involved in trading cargoes from Congo to Walvis Bay.

Commenting on its cargo trading operation and reasons for entering the bunker market, Endofa said: "Until now our main focus was cargo trading of gasoil in West Africa, but after looking at the supply and demand of fuel in the region, we decided that there was room enough for another player to enter the West African market."

"We are very excited to see how the West African market will embrace us, and we will do our utmost to become a key player in the region," Frost added.

Please find below a map indicating the main supply areas covered by Endofa.