FOR BUNKER barge specialist FFS Bunkers a turnaround in revenue generation has been one of the positive spin-offs of its BEE status. The Durban-based company achieved BEE compliance in January 2004 when Rajen Reddy, managing director of KZN Oils, acquired a 26% shareholding in the business. “Rajen had been using FFS Bunkers for the distribution of fuel to the NPA tugs and craft for the previous five years, so our company and its capabilities were well known to him,” FFS Bunkers’ MD Phil Harris told FTW. “Our philosophy towards BEE is to keep nurturing the important facets of social development and growing the people within the company. Evidence of this is the recent appointment of Nonhlanhla Qwabe as the first black female barge master in South Africa, currently serving on our barge ‘Black Egret’ in Durban harbour,” he said. “Future plans are to grow the company,” he added. “And while the rand/dollar exchange rate has had its effect, careful negotiation of freight rates has eased the pain somewhat, as has judicial curbing of costs.” With a January 2008 deadline for double hull construction of bunker barges looming, FFS Bunkers is gearing up for this deadline, he added.
