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CEPSA Panama has announced that it has strengthened its presence on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal with a new barge at the port of Cristobal.

CEPSA said the move was part of the company's objective to find the best formulas in order to achieve customer satisfaction.

The double hull barge, named Panabunker-Once (Panabunker XI), commenced operations on January 22nd supplying marine fuel at the Manzanillo port container terminal and the anchorage area at the port of Cristobal.

"The company is not only putting in place an excellent and competitive barge but also complying ahead of the incoming regulations on double hull requirements that will come into force next December 2010," CEPSA said in a statement.

The Panabunker-Once has a fuel oil storage capacity of 4,131 metric tonnes. This, together with the company's other vessels on the Pacific coast - the Panabunker-Diez and the Panabunker-Uno - represents a total marine fuel barge supply capacity of 11.000 metric tonnes, controlled exclusively by CEPSA Panama at both sides of the Canal.

"With this investment, CEPSA Panama is not only reinforcing its commitment towards reliability, quality, versatility and timely responsiveness but also towards compliance of future regulations. Thereby, guaranteeing the delivery of a premium customer service," CEPSA said.