Bunker barges leave Algoa Bay amid offshore bunkering impasse

TFG Marine and Minerva Bunkering moved their bunker barges away from the disputed bunker location between 28 May and 10 June, Unathi Sonti, executive chairperson of South Africa’s Maritime Business Chamber (MBC) told ENGINE.

PHOTO: Algoa Bay is adjacent to Port Elizabeth. Getty Images

Unfortunately, all the bunker barges have left Algoa Bay, a source from Port Elizabeth confirmed, adding that Minerva’s barges were the last of the bunker barges off Algoa Bay. 

The vessels removed from Algoa Bay operations are TFG Marine’s Sea Emperor, Avatar, Vemaharmony and Vemadignity, Sonti said. Minerva’s bunker barge Lefkas has also been removed, Sonti said.  

The vessels have been redeployed to Namibia and Mauritius to meet stronger demand there during the Red Sea crisis, Sonti said. 

A trader confirmed that since the offshore bunkering suspension was enforced in Algoa Bay in September last year, suppliers have been diverting their barges to locations along the west African coast. 

According to AIS data trackers like Marine Traffic and Vessel Finder, Sea Emperor and Lefkas are off Namibia's Walvis Bay. Avatar is currently stationed in Mozambique’s Maputo port. Vemadignitiy is operational at the Lome anchorage at the moment and Vemaharmony is in Congo’s Pointe Noire. 

TFG Marine did not wish to comment when ENGINE reached out.

Offshore bunkering has been suspended in Algoa Bay since last September, when the South African Revenue Service (SARS) detained bunker barges due to import duty disputes. Bunker suppliers TFG Marine, BP and Minerva Bunkering actively supplied bunker fuel via barges off Algoa Bay before the suspension. 

In April, SARS requested a second round of public feedback on the proposed amendments to bunkering rules, but did not announce when bunkering would resume in Algoa Bay.

Supply is currently limited to in-port deliveries by one supplier in Port Elizabeth, which is adjacent to Algoa Bay. Africa Bunkering & Shipping (ABS) offers bunkers by truck in the port. ABS has also supplied a few stems in other South African ports like Durban, Richards Bay and Cape Town since April, according to fuel quality lab data ENGINE has access to.  

By Manjula Nair

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