Bosphorus Strait News

Istanbul has historically been one of the main bunker supply centres in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ships en route to the Black Sea have to pass Istanbul, so many of them take on bunkers there before proceeding to their destinations. Istanbul is also the most convenient point for ships outbound from the Black Sea to take on fuel. Some 50,000 ships pass through the Turkish Strait every year with about 30 per cent bunkering in Istanbul.

Bunkering at Istanbul also makes sense as ships typically have to wait anyway before transiting the Bosphorus and they may as well use the enforced stop to refuel.Waiting times have tended to be a bit longer over the 12 months due to the construction of the Marmara Sea Tunnel connecting Asia and Europe.

There are nine physical suppliers in Istanbul. Five supply both fuel oil and gas oil and together account for more than 80 per cent of the total market of about 1.5 million tonnes a year. The other four firms only deliver gas oil. Istanbul suppliers obtain 70 per cent of their supplies from a nearby refinery producing straight-run, low-density, low-sulphur, high-quality fuel oil. As a result, owners have no problem with off-spec supplies and contaminants.

The Istanbul-based bunker barge fleet comprises some 50 well-equipped vessels, all with a good turn of speed. All the vessels are covered for P&I risks. Blending of grades of fuel oil is mainly done ashore by the main suppliers.