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Doha-based Qatar Fuel (WOQOD) has announced that it has collaborated with Lloyd's register FOBAS on a Quality Management Bunker Fuel Supply Chain project to ensure that it is able to provide a safe, timely and efficient bunkering service to customers.

The company, which has its main bunkering operations at Ras Laffan, approximately 80 kilometres north east of Doha, supplies marine fuel to vessels loading LNG at the Ras Laffan terminal. WOQOD says that it has been running its new quality management system in all its bunker supply processes for two to three months.

In a press release issued by WOQOD, the company said "The convenience of picking up bunkers for vessels whilst loading LNG at Ras Laffan terminal offers a unique opportunity for operators of such vessels to reduce voyage times and operational cost to the port of discharge as they will be able to pick up bunkers in Qatar without making a detour to other ports in the region to re-fuel.”

WOQOD will be distributing bunkers throughout Qatar, but particularly at Ras Laffan where WOQOD has built a dedicated bunker supply storage facility in Ras Laffan Industrial Park capable of delivering 4 million metric tonnes of bunker fuel annually. With some 100 over ships forecast to call a month, with stems of up to approximately 5000 metric tonnes for the larger ships, WOQOD is looking at significant volumes.

Mohammed T. Al Sobai, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of WOQOD, confirmed the importance of ensuring that his company had quality systems in place for bunker supply activities.

"Working with Lloyd’s Register FOBAS has been vital in helping assure this critical supply chain remains free flowing. The delivery of bunkers at specified quality levels is safety and business critical every time. WOQOD aspires to achieve a high quality delivery of all its business activities to all customers, external and internal stakeholders. Ships need high quality bunkers and we want to make certain we are doing as much as we can to achieve that goal.”

Nayef Saeed Al-Hajiri, WOQOD Quality Management Representative explained “The key to managing bunker supply is having a well documented process: a process that is clear, accountable and professional providing buyers with the confidence that they need. The current global, bunker fuel oil demand for ships amounts to approximately 340 - 350 million metric tonnes – that’s a lot of bunkers. Forecasted growth for bunker-fuel demand is anticipated to rise by one-third between now and 2020, placing ever increasing importance on quality supplies and safe, efficient operations."

Al-Hajiri added ”With the WOQOD Quality Management System for Bunker Supply Chain (WQMBS) now in place, WOQOD can assure customers that we are able to meet their needs for timely and safe delivery of the required level of quality in the right place.”