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VLCC’s found greater employment moving fuel oil from Rotterdam to the Far East in 2009 than in 2008, according to data released by the Port of Rotterdam.

In 2009, 17 VLCC’s are reported to have handled 4.0 million tons of fuel oil. By contrast, 14 VLCCs handled 3.7 million tons of fuel oil in 2008.

Neither year, however, was anywhere close to the 25 VLCCs employed in 2007 to handle 6.4 million tons of fuel oil.

Fuel oil often moves from Rotterdam to the Far East as a backhaul voyage on VLCCs that first discharge crude oil at Rotterdam. Underpinning the use of VLCCs and tankers of other sizes to haul fuel oil from Rotterdam is the spread in fuel oil prices between Northwest Europe and the Far East.

July was the busiest month in 2009, with the loading of three VLCCs with fuel oil. Meanwhile, two VLCC’s were loaded with fuel oil in June, August, and December.

The 17 VLCCs which sailed with fuel oil from Rotterdam to the Far East in 2009 were: Leo Star (January), Stena Victory (Feb.), Universal Peace (February.), Darab (April.), Nesa (May), Pisces Star (June), Hero 1 (June), Front Circassia (July), Hamoon (July), Hirmand (July), Kamakshi Prem (August), Dena (August), Front Chief (September) Mazyonah (October), Ocana (November) Damavand (December) and Kazimah III (December).

In contrast to the one VLCC which loaded at Rotterdam in January 2009, three VLCCs loaded in the corresponding month this year.

VLCCs can be loaded with fuel oil at Rotterdam from the port's terminals, refineries and an in-port transshipment facility.

The key terminals employed in loading VLCCs are Vopak's Europoort and Vitol's ETT. Fuel oil can also be loaded at the KPC and BP refineries.

The Port of Rotterdam's ship-to-ship in-port facility was inaugurated in June 2007. The facility, located at Calandkanaal, can handle chemicals and dry bulk as well as tankers. It has an LOA of 380 meters and maximum outgoing draft of 20.9 meters.

An alternative to loading VLCCs in Rotterdam is offshore ship-to-ship transfer of fuel oil in waters off the UK and Denmark.

Please find below an overview of VLCCs loaded at Rotterdam between 2006 and 2009.

Year	No of VLCCs	Fuel Oil Quantity (million mts)
2006	12	2.4
2007	25	6.4
2008	14	3.7
2009	17	4.0