---

Physical bunker supplier JSC Wissol Petroleum Georgia (Wissol Petroleum) has said that despite severe weather conditions, the company is continuing to provide bunkering services at 'ice-free' Georgian ports.

Ice has been an issue for a number of Black Sea and Danube ports. In Ukrainian ports last week, including Yuzhniy, Odessa and Ilyichevsk, suppliers were advising that they were unable to supply due to the icy weather conditions. In Kerch, the ice was also hampering deliveries and shipping was suspended at ports on the River Danube due to thick ice.

Wissol Petroleum, which has been supplying under the "Wissol Bunkering" brand since March 2008, points out that the Georgian ports of Batumi and Poti remain ice-free all year round and this has led to many ship operators using its bunkers-only services.

"Due to adverse weather conditions in other parts of the Black Sea we see increasing demand from transit vessels receiving bunker supplies at Poti anchorage. There are no additional fees for transit vessels arriving on the roads of the Georgian ports of Batumi and Poti, and this has attracted more ships sailing in transit to use bunkers-only call services,” Wissol Bunkering said.

Wissol Petroleum recently started bunkering transit vessels at Poti anchorage area. Vessels travelling mainly from Turkish Black Sea ports and ships calling at the Russian port of Sochi tend to use bunker call services at Poti anchorage.

The company carries out deliveries of marine gasoil (MGO) with maximum 0.1% sulphur content and in line with ISO 8217 standards and MARPOL 73/78 Annex VI Regulations at the Georgian ports of Batumi, Poti, Kulevi and Supsa. It also supplies marine lubricants as distributors of Total Lubmarine in Georgia.

Wissol Petroleum operates the largest network of petrol and compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in Georgia. It is a leading company in the country's energy sector and markets its products through its sub-brands Wissol Bunkering, Wissol Petroleum, Wissol Gas, Air Wissol and Wissol Gas Distribution Company.