---

Peninsula Petroleum has announced that it has launched a physical supply operation in Barcelona, after moving its 7,500-deadweight-tonne (dwt) bunker barge Alliance Spirit to the Mediterranean port.

Clarifying the reason for the decision, Peninsula explained that, despite Barcelona being one of Europe's busiest ports, it believes there is a seasonal shortfall in bunker supply capacity and that "an agile and innovative marine fuel supplier can offer new and valuable optionality to the significant marine traffic in the region".

Peninsula said the decision to start supplying in Barcelona had been made following "detailed market analysis" and ongoing conversations with its clients.

John Bassadone, CEO of Peninsula Petroleum, commented: "We believe that there is a significant supply gap in the market in Barcelona. With our flexible asset base and powerful commercial platform, we can offer bespoke solutions that create valuable optionality for our clients, saving them time and money.

"This move is part of a wider strategy of leveraging our asset base to provide regional optionality for our clients. By developing a powerful and flexible supply capability, we can provide innovative service not only in our traditional home ports of Gibraltar and Algeciras, but across the wider Western Mediterranean / Iberian Peninsula."

Peninsula's supply set-up in the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa now covers Barcelona, Malaga, Gibraltar, Algeciras and the Canary Islands.

Bunker Index previously revealed the launch of bunker barge deliveries at the port of Malaga - Spain's fifth-biggest cruise port - earlier this year, when Peninsula delivered marine fuel to the cruise ship Pullmantur Horizon on April 2.

The following month, Peninsula carried out a landmark bunker barge delivery to a non-cruise vessel in Malaga.

Image: Cruise vessels next to the World Trade Centre in Barcelona.