First Offshore Bunkering Service Launched

Iran has launched its first offshore bunkering service at an anchorage south of the Qeshm island free trade zone in the Gulf. Singapore-based Global Energy provides the services in cooperation with the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) and National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). Ahmad Hakim, a senior official in Qeshm, said that the floating anchorage, set up nine miles southwest of Qeshm, had begun its services earlier this month, having already fuelled several international tankers. Located near the main shipping lanes in the Gulf, the new anchorage has a capacity of four billion tons. Hakim said services would remain on a small scale until more business is attracted. He said the island planned to offer other shipping services such as food and water delivery and those for crew change.