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Chevron Texaco's Fuel and Marine
Marketing (FAMM)-Indah Sdn Bhd has
officially taken over the operation
of Westport Bunkering Services Sdn
Bhd (WEBS).
Commercial operation of the onshore
bunker facility started last week
with the discharging of 60,000
tonnes of high sulphur fuel from the
240- metre MT Samar Spirit on
October 23, 2002.
"We have leased the bunkering
terminal from WEBS. The facility has
some 196,000 cubic metres of bunker
storage facility located on the
Island of Pulau Indah, said
FAMM-Indah Sdn Bhd, chief executive
officer, Salvatore Drago.
FAMM-Indah Sdn Bhd is joint venture
entity between FAMM and Coral Indah
Sdn Bhd.
FAMM will holds the majority stake
of 70 per cent while the remaining
will be hold by our local partner
Coral Indah Sdn Bhd
"Initially we will be transporting
blended bunker's from various parts
of the world and eventually when the
entire facilities take off by first
quarter of next year we will be
maximizing our onshore facilities
for blending to produce 180cst and
360 cst," said the Drago.
Salvatore said FAMM has considerable
expertise in trading, risk
management, research and development
and supply and distribution of
various bunker fuels.
Unlike other players in the market,
FAMM offers customized term supply
contracts at single or multiple
ports to meet customers' lifting
pattern. FAMM current supplies of
lubricants to more than 700 ports
and fuel to more than 250 ports
around the world and this will be an
added advantage for local ship
owners.
"In addition to that we are also in
position to help our valued
customers better manage their bunker
costs by providing price risk
management and alternative pricing
mechanisms. To ensure customers
received superior technical support
we have also have in-house research
laboratories within the facilities
being managed by Saybolt (M) Sdn Bhd,"
said Salvatore.
The executive chairman of Westport
Tan Sri G Gnanalingam said the
venture is an ideal alliance that
places Westport in a cutting edge
position to offer value added
bunkering services and savings to
the vessel operators calling Port
Klang.
"The move will further enhance
Westport's transshipment hub status
as the availability of bunker at the
Port further increased ships calls
and reduce port diversion time to
another bunkering port," he added.
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