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Marine fuel supplier Oman Oil Matrix Marine Services LLC (MXO) has today announced the expansion of its physical infrastructure in Oman with the deployment of a new bunker barge in the Port of Sohar.

The new barge, the 7,535-deadweight-tonne (dwt) MV Stephanie, is providing both intermediate fuel oil (IFO) - IFO 380 RMG 2010 - and marine gas oil (MGO) to customers at all locations within the Port of Sohar and anchorage areas.

MXO now has two dedicated bunker barges supplying in the port, following the earlier deployment of the vessel Azalea in August 2014.

"This development is in line with the company's strategy to expand its physical operations on a global basis, building closer relationships with its customers, and ensuring the highest quality of its bunkering services and products," the company said in a statement.

Stephen Robinson, Managing Director of MXO, commented: "Developing our physical infrastructure means that we have more control over the end-to-end bunkering supply chain from order through to final delivery.

"This enables us to ensure the quality and quantity of products, the reliability of supply, as well as minimizing costs and maximizing operational efficiencies within the bunkering process. Despite the drop in global oil prices, marine fuel remains a significant proportion of a vessel's operating costs. We are therefore working closely with our customers to provide the optimum bunker solution, creating real value for them when it comes to marine fuel procurement."

Murthed Al Kharusi, MXO Commercial Director, remarked: "Sohar has grown exponentially as a shipping hub over the last five years and we are confident that it will continue attracting the world's biggest shipping lines. Our new barge will extend and increase the efficiency of movements in the port during peak hours. Over 2,000 ships called at Sohar last year and as commercial shipping continues to relocate from the capital Muscat to Sohar, the importance of a quick turnaround for vessels and their cargo cannot be overstated."

MXO says it is also in discussions to offer ex-pipe deliveries from the Oiltanking Odfjell terminal, which would further expand its physical offering for customers.

MXO, a joint venture between German firm Matrix Marine Holding and Oman Oil Marketing Company SAOG, is the leading physical supplier of marine fuels at the Port of Sohar.

Matrix Marine's business encompasses the physical delivery of marine fuels in the United States, Singapore, India, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. Matrix Marine Holding is a subsidiary of Mabanaft, the trading division of Marquard & Bahls - a Hamburg-based privately owned company that operates in the fields of energy supply, trading and logistics.

Other subsidiaries of Marquard & Bahls are Oiltanking, Skytanking, Mabagas, Bomin Group and Bomin Linde LNG.