Effective 1 November 2016, bunkering services are being offered in the Port of Maputo. The contract was signed on 28 October between the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) and a joint venture headed by Petromoc Bunkering. The port is now able to provide fuel and oil, not only to ships calling at the port, but also to ships at outer anchorage.
“It definitely is an added value to the Port of Maputo and provides further motivation for vessels to make a single call to load cargo and bunker at the same time”, said Osório Lucas, CEO MPDC. “The on-going dredging activity has already made use of the new bunkering services, so we can affirm it is already a successful venture that will allow cost saving for the shipping lines”, he added.
This service is aligned to the strategic plan of the port.
The on-going dredging operation to deepen the access channel of the port from the current -11 metres to -14.2 meters, will allow ships with a DWT of up to 120 000 tonnes to call at Maputo. The dredging, paired with other infrastructure and added services initiatives, will make Maputo Port more competitive from a regional and international shipping market perspective.
“Petromoc is proud to participate in the development of the Port of Maputo and offer its customers a first-class bunkering service, which will increase the number of vessels calling at Mozambican ports and enhance tax revenues This new activity also completes the portfolio of Petromoc in the service of the country,” said Fernando Obed Uache, Chairman of Petromoc Bunkering Limitada and CEO of Petromoc S.A.