Gibraltar hosts bunkering Forum

An international audience of shipping and bunkering professionals will attend a series of workshops, forums and receptions held by speakers from Peninsular Petroleum, World Fuel Services, Intertanko, Vopak, Vemaoil and Aegean. The Forum will include a workshop on bunkering, an overview of bunkering in the Mediterranean as well as updates on IMO’s steps to improve fuel quality, IBIA’s port charter initiative, visits to bunkering barges and a reception at the top of the Rock of Gibraltar.

“We’re delighted at the turnout at this event, and that IBIA could bring suppliers, ship owners and port representatives together. We are all looking forward to an interesting week of discussions,” said Peter Hall, chief executive, IBIA.

The Gibraltar Straits is a key European bunkering location with Alegerciras, Cueta, Tanger Med and Gibraltar collectively making up the largest supply hub in the Mediterranean.

“Gibraltar is one of Europe’s key bunkering hubs and holding our regional event here gives us an opportunity to show what IBIA is doing to help improve fuel quality, and through our training, help raise standards. We’ve put together an event to both educate and inform on the latest bunkering issues, which mixes the theoretical, practical and of course the social,” Mr Hall added.

Gibraltar is a signatory to IBIA’s Port Charter scheme designed to improve bunkering standards around the world. Signatories to the Charter are required to demonstrate that they have a licensing scheme for bunker suppliers in their port, that they are able to regulate and enforce their regulations covering bunkering operations, that there are sufficient qualified personnel working in the bunker supply chain and that they have effective testing regimes in place.