BP ends bunker business in Algeciras; Peninsula extends operations: sources

BP ended its bunker activity in the Mediterranean cargo port of Algeciras in the second half of June, after it ended the lease of a chartered bunker barge, traders said Monday.

At the same time, one of the biggest bunker suppliers in the Strait, Peninsula, took over the lease of the barge, extending its bunkering operations in the region, a source close to the company said. With the new bunker barge, Peninsula now operates a fleet of five bunker barges in the Strait area, the source said.

“BP will probably drop the bunker business [in Algeciras]; I think it wasn’t very profitable for them,” one trader said. “But this should not have a major impact on the market as the volume will be taken by competitors.”

BP was not immediately available to comment.

The new Peninsula chartered barge Spar Bunker 40 has a capacity of 3,700 mt and was designed with separate tanks for HSFO and LSFO storage.
Source: Platts