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UAE-based Gulf Petrochem Group says it was recently involved in arranging the first-ever bunker supply by barge at the port of Paradip, India, in a joint effort with physical supplier Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL).

The maiden delivery of 810 metric tonnes of 180 centistoke (cSt) intermediate fuel oil (IFO) to the 79235-deadweight-tonne (dwt) bulk carrier MV Countess I was performed by the bunker barge MT Dolphin last week. According to ship-tracking data, the Countess I then departed from the Indian east coast port on May 11.

In a statement, Gulf Petrochem explained that physical supplier IOCL recently introduced duty-free 180 cSt for vessels calling at Paradip, but only small-volume deliveries were being performed at berth via road tank wagon (RTW).

However, "with the introduction of [the] MT Dolphin, bigger future volumes of bunker fuel requirement at the port can be seamlessly met," the company explained.

The MT Dolphin is a IV class barge with the capacity to hold up to 500 tonnes of fuel oil and 50 tonnes of marine gas oil (MGO). It has a pumping rate of 150-200 tonnes per hour for fuel oil and 25 tonnes per hour for MGO.

Commenting on the company's ability to sell larger volumes by barge at Paradip moving forwards, Manan Goel, Group Director of Gulf Petrochem, remarked: "The supply of bunker fuel by barge to Paradip will significantly scale up the efficiency of the port, and underlines our commitment to strengthen our operations and deliver truly value-added services. In future, larger volumes of bunker fuel can be supplied that will facilitate bigger vessel arrivals to Paradip, with it evolving as a strategic port on the east coast of India.

"We were venturing into uncharted waters, and are thankful to the support of all our partners for their close coordination that made the planning and execution smooth," Goel said in reference to the Countess I delivery.

With the introduction of barge deliveries at Paradip, Gulf Petrochem says it will be able to arrange supplies by barge at berth and inner anchorage.

Smaller quantities of up to 250 tonnes can also be supplied at berth by truck, the company confirmed.

Image: Manan Goel, Group Director of Gulf Petrochem.