Decisions needed to entrench CT as Africa’s bunkering hub

AS THE worldwide trend moves towards barge delivery of bunkers, it remains for the oil industry to collectively assess its modus operandi for future deliveries and make a decision either to move away from pipeline deliveries, or refurbish the existing lines, says FFS Bunkers general manager Phil Harris. “By doing so, long term planning could be implemented to make Cape Town proud of being the bunkering hub of Africa.” Durban-based FFS Bunkers began operating in 1984 in Durban. It has now expanded to provide a barging service to world shipping in the ports of Durban, Richards Bay and Cape Town with all vessels audited to world-class standards, says Harris. Cape Town has always been an ex pipeline delivery port, but with the aging reticulation system, Harris believes the need for an alternative delivery via barges has become quite urgent. “Recent incidents on the pipeline to the container terminal have highlighted this problem.” And while the present combination of a barge and sufficient pipeline capacity for the container terminal has proved adequate to date, as soon as the pipeline is withdrawn for repairs, delivery deadlines become very tight, says Harris. “Volumes through the port of Cape Town are sufficient to support two barges, but while there remains the indecision of not removing the aging pipeline system, no contingency plan exists for the future delivery of bunkers.”