Vacuum Gas Oil News

At least 10 vessels carrying Russia-linked cargoes of crude and refined products were approaching the United States on Wednesday, as suppliers rushed to deliver ahead of the U.S. government's deadline to wind down Russian energy purchases, data from traders and Refinitiv Eikon showed.The United States, the world's biggest oil consumer, this month banned imports of Russian energy products due to the invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special operation." Washington's ban gives importers until April 22 to discharge cargoes moving under pre-ban contracts.At least one tanker carrying fuel oil heading to the United States has diverted, and at least two others that stopped at Russian terminals are awaiting discharge at U.S. ports, according to Refinitiv data, one since March 7.U.S.

The IMO’s MEPC 70 proposals for a marine fuels sulfur cap of 0.5% to be in place by 2020 have attracted severe criticism from several major stakeholders in the maritime sector, including the International Bunker Industry Association, the organization that defends the interests of bunker fuel suppliers. The IBIA has stated that several unknowns remain about the proposed limit and has asked whether assumed global capacity will translate into actual marine market supply in 2020: “Will refiners produce suitable fuels, and what will these fuels look like?

ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Norge AS announced today plans to install a new processing unit at the Slagen refinery to enable production of high quality vacuum gas oil, a higher-yield feedstock used to create finished products such as diesel. The new residual flash tower is an upgrading unit that will improve the facility’s overall crude distillation process by replacing production of heavy fuel oil with lighter, higher-value gas oil. “The new investment in Slagen builds upon other strategic investments in Europe and further strengthens the industry-leading position of our advantaged assets in meeting increasing demand for energy,” said Jerry Wascom, president of ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company.

Fendercare Marine provide first ship to ship transfer operation off Ireland. Norfolk based Fendercare Marine completed the first ship to ship (STS) transfer off the coast of Belfast last week. The operation was unusually requested by the owners of Genmar Companion following a discovery of a crack in the deck of the vessel en route from Rotterdam to New York. The Genmar Companion had sheltered off Copeland Islands since 16 December having been refused entry into Cork to conduct the repairs necessary to the deck.

The Coast Guard and members of the Wilmington Fire and Rescue responded to a 749-ft tanker aground near Wilmington, Del., August 16. The Coast Guard received a call at 10:15 p.m. reporting that the tanker Jill Jacob ran aground approximately one half-mile south of the Delaware Memorial Bridge with 4,410,000 gallons of vacuum gas oil aboard. A Coast Guard boat crew from Coast Guard Station Salem, N.J., and a boat crew from Wilmington Fire and Rescue arrived on scene to assess the situation. The crew of the Jill Jacob with assistance of three tugboats was able to refloat the tanker at 5:53 a.m. Monday. The Jill Jacob and its crew were towed to Deepwater Anchorage approximately one and one half miles north of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. There were no reports of injuries or pollution.

According to a Reuters report, an oil tanker with 360,000 barrels capacity was struck by an ice floe and ran aground today while loading oil products at an Alaska refinery, citing a state official and the refining company. According to the Reuters report, refinery owner Tesoro Corp. did not have an estimate of the amount of product released. The Tesoro-chartered double-hulled tanker, the Seabulk Pride, was loading heavy vacuum gas oil and unleaded gasoline from the refinery in Nikiski, Alaska, on the Cook Inlet. The ship was reportedly aground about half a mile north of the dock, and the vessel's tanks were reported to be secure.

Kirby Corp. signed an asset purchase agreement with Coastal Towing, Inc. to purchase from Coastal seven black oil tank barges and 13 inland towboats. The transaction, estimated at $17.1 million in cash, is being financed through Kirby's operating cash flow and available credit under Kirby's bank revolving credit agreement. Kirby and Coastal have also entered into a Barge Management Agreement whereby Kirby will serve as manager of the combined black oil tank barge fleet, which will include Coastal's 51 remaining barges and Kirby's 65 barges, for a period of seven years. In a related transaction, on September 25, 2002, Kirby purchased from Coastal three black oil tank barges for $1.8 million in cash.

Kirby Corporation announced the signing of an asset purchase agreement with Coastal Towing, Inc. ("Coastal") to purchase from Coastal seven black oil tank barges and 13 inland towboats. The transaction, estimated at $17.1 million in cash, is being financed through Kirby's operating cash flow and available credit under Kirby's bank revolving credit agreement. Kirby and Coastal have also entered into a Barge Management Agreement whereby Kirby will serve as manager of the combined black oil tank barge fleet, which will include Coastal's 51 remaining barges and Kirby's 65 barges, for a period of seven years. In a related transaction, on September 25, Kirby purchased from Coastal three black oil tank barges for $1.8 million in cash.