Maersk has opted to make Rotterdam a central part of its fuel plans once the global sulphur cap kicks in on January 1, 2020.
A.P. Moller – Maersk and Royal Vopak, a tank storage operator, have agreed to launch a 0.5 % sulphur fuel bunkering facility in Rotterdam, Europe’s largest bunkering hub. This first joint initiative will cater for around 20% of Maersk’s global demand, enabling A.P. Moller – Maersk to deliver approximately 2.3m tonnes of compliant fuel per year.
As an anchor tenant in the modified facilities this agreement will enable Maersk, as well as any other interested third parties, to supply vessels trading with and inside Europe with compliant fuel.
“We trust that this initiative will put to rest some of the concerns the industry has on fuel availability as well as secure our continued competitiveness in the market,” said Niels Henrik Lindegaard, head of Maersk Oil Trading.
Maersk said in a statement that the 2020 cap was a “paradigm shift” for shipping and a “game changer” for the entire industry.
