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St. Petersburg-based Baltic Fuel Company (BFC) says that it is fast becoming a leading bunker company in Russia's northwest region thanks to the expansion of its own tanker fleet to 30 vessels.

In line with the company's vessel newbuild program, BFC has put into service the 2,570 deadweight tonne (dwt) double hull tanker Captain Shiryaev and the 5,000 dwt double hull tanker Captain Ponikarovsky.

BFC is currently focused on bunker fuel supply, oil product exports and providing integrated services for environmental safety and OSR operations. The company says this year its will also be launching a new revenue stream for the business - the transportation of petroleum products along the country's inland waterways.

BFC's CEO, Stanislav Korneev, says that this new division will help the company to become more independent and mobile in the supply of petroleum products.

From June 2011, BFC will also start supplying oil products on a new bunker barge currently under construction at Russia's largest shipbuilder, Baltiysky Shipyard.