South Africa’s first coastal bunker barge is now in operation at the Port of Richards Bay, where it will serve as a floating storage and fuel replenishment vessel for BP customer vessels at the port.

The barge, known as the AMBER II, was delivered late last year and to date it has delivered more than 43 000 tons of product to 94 vessels.

Improved service delivery

According to Preston Khomo, Manager of the Port of Richards Bay, the presence of the coastal barge is great news for the port in terms of the improved service it can now offer to vessels.

“AMBER II is helping to ensure adequate bunkering services to vessels calling at the port, saving them costs that would have been incurred if they were to refuel at other ports, which was often very prohibitive. For the past two years, the Port of Richards Bay has had challenges because we had only one bunker point,”Khomo explains.

The 6 000 tonne, 105 metre long barge supplies marine fuel and marine gas oil at rates up to 550 litres (550 l) per hour, with a barge capacity of 5 700 litres for fuel and 800 litres for gas oil.

It is operated and owned by BP while African Marine Solutions (AMSOL) handles the logistics and scheduling.

Employment opportunities

Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) granted AMSOL a licence to operate the coastal barge after a year of negotiations.

BP and AMSOL had to commit to a progressive plan to create employment opportunities for South Africans on the barge within the next two years, including employing a local Officer.

“Presently AMBER II has a predominantly foreign crew of around 20 with one South African. AMSOL will train South Africans and provide crewing services going forward,” the ports authority notes.