Speaking at a reception on Tuesday to celebrate Vopak's 35th anniversary in Singapore Eelco Hoekstra, chairman of Vopak, said that it was investing in infrastructure to meet the demands of its customers with the 0.5% sulphur cap from 1 January 2020 for marine fuel.
“While market parties are yet deciding on how to meet the requirements, we have started to make adjustment in order to be ready for this transition and facilitate more sustainable product flows.
“That is why we are investing in the expansion of our Sebarok terminal, with new capacity to cater towards the storage and handling of marine gasoil,” he said.
Singapore is the world's largest bunkering port and the majority of owners are expecting to comply with the sulphur cap either by using marine gasoil or hybrid, blended low sulphur fuels.
“We are also upgrading the terminal to allow for more efficient blending and better control over blending- specifications. These investments will give us the flexibility to handle multiple fuels and strengthen the position of Sebarok as the bunker hub of choice,” Hoekstra added.
Since 2017 vessels calling at Vopak’s Sebarok terminal can receive bunkers from bunker barges simultaneously while loading or discharging at the Vopak terminal.
Vopak has five storage terminals in Singapore with nearly 500 tanks.
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