UAE bans three bunker barges for violations

The UAE has banned bunker vessels operated and managed by domestic firms Warm Seas Development and Victoriam from operating in UAE waters and ports with immediate effect, citing "serious violations".

The UAE's ministry of energy issued a circular on 30 May, citing "a need to safeguard maritime operations in the UAE waters" and "serious violations" of UAE laws, maritime conventions and maritime customs. The exact nature of the violations by Warm Seas and Victoria remain unknown. Argus has asked the ministry of energy for comments.

The companies mentioned in the circular are banned from providing any maritime services to any ship in the UAE.

The ban includes but is not limited to three barges — the Panama-flagged 7,654 deadweight (dwt) tonne Maximus and two Malta-flagged vessels the 7,695dwt Atticus and the13,904dwt Amelia.

Bunker market participants expect the ban to tighten barge schedules in UAE ports, particularly in the world's third-largest bunkering centre of Fujairah.

"Barge schedules were already quite tight even before the ban was announced. Three suppliers who use these barges will be definitely affected", a Fujairah-based trader said.

Global bunker supplier Montfort is one of the suppliers, market participants said. The firm is a major supplier of bunker-grade high-sulphur fuel oil and chartered the Amelia to deliver to vessels calling Fujairah. Other vessels were used by suppliers UAE-based Pearl Marine, part of Consort Bunkers Singapore, and Danish firm Monjasa in the ports of Fujairah and Jebel Ali.

Elshan Aliyev