|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 24 April 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Lanka to sell marine fuel from floating storage By Shirajiv Sirimane Sri Lanka will enter the business of off shore bunkering of selling oil from a floating storage for the first time. The project has been undertaken by Master Divers who has formed a joint venture with Bakri International of Saudi Arabia. The project has been approved as a BoI venture and 20 million US dollars have been invested. According to the Chairman Master Divers Marine and Underwater Services, this is the first time that oil is being sold to ships from a floating storage. A 14,000 ton oil tanker would be stationed outside the Colombo Harbour to provide the service. "We are hoping to commence operations early next month as the vessel has just arrived," he said. With the facility to pump oil outside the port, it would increase the image of the Port and give a financial boost to the Colombo Port with more vessels to refuel in Colombo. The port would get additional revenue by way of port charges. In addition the ships would also engage in repairs and purchases of essential items from Colombo. "Over 100 ships pass Colombo daily without anchoring and our aim is to capture this market," he said. The main refuelling Port for these ships had been Singapore. They are now hoping to shift their 1500-ton two fuel tankers in the vicinity of the Galle Harbour to attract the ships passing the area. Master Divers was formed in 1978 has moved in as a major player in Sri Lanka's marine Services. It is also one of the four largest Salvage Companies in the world. Today, Master Divers is on call to offer its services in any part of the world and is probably the only marine organisation in the Asian region with its own fleet of vessels, equipment and expertise. The company which operates and maintains the Single Point Mooring (SPM) outside Colombo Harbour for Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, is the only SPM facility in Sri Lanka. Master Divers' since its inception has engaged in many off-shore and harbour based marine activities and maritime construction work in Thailand, Maldives, Singapore, India and in the Port of Damam, Saudi Arabia. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
