Fratelli Cosulich Develops Bunker Chain

Fratelli Cosulich has taken a further step in its strategy to become a fully fledged physical bunker supplier controlling the whole chain by taking delivery of the third of its new high capacity bunker tankers. The 6,500 dwt Emma Cosulich was delivered last week from China's Sopo shipyard at Zhengjiang and follows two similar vessels, the Maria Cosulich and the Teresa Cosulich, which are currently operating in the port of Singapore as bunker barges. Investment in the barges was the first step in extending control of the bunker chain.

Currently Fratelli Cosulich is negotiating storage facilities in Singapore and plans to buy full cargoes of bunker fuel from Middle East producers. The specifications for the new barges were to have a minimum useable size of 6,500 dwt, to ensure that they had sufficient capacity to regularly lift and deliver large stems, and also to make them flexible enough to be able to work as coastal tankers in Asia and European trades, if required. The barges are also fitted with stainless steel heating coils, which Cosulich says are essential even in Singapore for the delivery of 500cst fuel. The Emma Cosulich is 100 m loa, 7,029 dwt, has five pairs of cargo tanks and a slop tank totalling 7,565 cum served by two 850 cu m/h Tianjin cargo pumps. The twin Anqing Daihatsu main engines deliver 11 knots and there is space for a crew of 19.

Fratelli Cosulich started its bunker business 1969 and has developed through a worldwide network of supply, broking and trading offices. The teams in Hong Kong, Singapore and Tianjin provide complete coverage of the Far East markets while the other two bunker units, in Genoa and NewYork, cover Europe, Africa and the Americas. Fratelli Cosulich is a licensed physical supplier in Singapore and in Hong Kong, operating via own and chartered barges.