Shanghai: In the space of just 15 weeks a marine lube company has been established with a remarkable global reach. Established July 15 Gulf Marine, a new subsidiary of Gulf Oil, has made a dramatic impact on the stretched lube market. With many employees who used to work at France's Total Lubmarine Gulf Marine now covers 300 ports in 36 countries and according to Caroline Huot, ceo, the firm will be covering 430 ports in 45 countries by year end. Japan and the US will come onstream by January with the company fully global covering 700 ports by the end of the first quarter 2009. Within the first 15 weeks of existence Gulf Marine has bagged more than 100 ships under contract. Barges are now in operation in Hong Kong, Rotterdam, Fujairah, and Singapore - the latter (pictured) is apparently the largest lube barge in the world at 1,700 dwt. A new barge, built in China, will replace the one in Hong Kong in early November. Where's next? 'The sky's the limit ... or the sea!,' quipped Ms Huot. [24/10/08]
Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited.
