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TransMontaigne Partners L.P. (TMP) has announced that commercial operations are underway for phase one at the 185-acre Battleground Oil Specialty Terminal Company, LLC (BOSTCO) on the Houston Ship Channel.

Approximately 20 of the 51 storage tanks being built during phase one construction are being placed into service this month, and the remaining tanks will come online during the next six months. A two-berth ship dock and 12 barge berths are also scheduled to be in service this month.

A joint venture of TMP (which owns a 42.5 percent interest in the facility) and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., the approximately $485 million BOSTCO oil terminal at mile marker 43 on the Houston Ship Channel is fully subscribed for a total capacity of 7.1 million barrels and is able to handle ultra low sulphur diesel, residual fuels and other black oil terminal services.

Phase two of construction at BOSTCO is underway and involves the construction of an additional six, 150,000-barrel, ultra low sulphur diesel tanks, additional pipeline connectivity and high-speed loading at a rate of 25,000 barrels per hour. BOSTCO expects phase two to begin service in the fourth quarter of 2014.

“We are pleased to announce the commencement of operations of the BOSTCO facility, which provides the market with a unique, deepwater terminaling solution that provides high speed loading and improved barge and ship access to the Texas Gulf Coast for the export and import of various refined products,” said Charles Dunlap, chief executive officer of TMP’s general partner.

The BOSTCO project is employing approximately 750 local contractors during construction and has hired about 75 full-time employees to operate the facility.