Ships Chartered for New English Channel Bunkers-Only Service

Cockett Marine Oil has signed up two modern tankers to provide its new bunkers-only service for English Channel shipping. The 2009-built LS Jamie and 2007-built LS Christine have been chartered from their Belgian owner Lauranne Shipping in a deal facilitated by Cockett Marine Oil’s sister company Unicorn Shipping. The ships have a combined cargo capacity in excess of 16,500m3 and will be able to carry a range of marine fuels. Following initial preparation and familiarisation, the vessels are scheduled to be in position at anchorages in the Queen’s Channel in the Thames Estuary from the start of September. “We have had a very positive response to our plans for a bunkers-only facility off the English Channel shipping lanes and the LS Jamie and LS Christine will help us deliver a good quality service,” said Robert Thompson, General Manager Supply at Cockett Marine Oil. “They are good modern ships, operated by a well-established quality European ship owner. Both of them have multiple tanks, each with its own pump and line, enabling us to run a very flexible operation.” LS Jamie has a deadweight of 5,775 tonnes, an overall length of 105.50m and can carry 6,420m3 of fuel oil. The LS Christine, which is a larger vessel than originally planned and chartered in response to predicted demand being greater than initially expected, has a deadweight of 8,672 tonnes, is 125.40m long and can hold 10,290m3 in its cargo tanks. Cockett Marine Oil is predicting that it will supply at least 1m tonnes of marine fuels a year, including low and high sulphur fuel variants, as well as gasoil. The new facilities will be able to host deep draft vessels of all types. By supplying fuel oils loaded under contract from ARA and enabling customers to avoid time-consuming and costly diversions from the main shipping lanes, it will compete head-to-head with other major international bunkers-only supply centres as well as facilities in the English Channel. The new service has been developed in close cooperation with the Port of London Authority (PLA), which controls the area where the three anchorages lie – approximately on 51deg 28min North/1deg 20min East. The PLA will oversee the operation from its London Port Control Centre and as part of risk control measures is putting in place enhanced oil spill response capabilities based at Ramsgate. The new service by Cockett Marine Oil draws on the resources of a number of businesses within Cockett’s South African parent company The Grindrod Group, including Unicorn Shipping and Rotterdam-based Associated Bunker Oil Contractors. Details of the new Cockett Marine Oil bunkers-only facility can be obtained by visiting www.cockettgroup.com