Since the beginning of July a new 50,000 deadweight tonne (dwt) Eco oil tanker, MT Matuku, has been shipping petroleum products from the Marsden Point Refinery to ports around New Zealand’s coast.
Silver Fern Shipping, a member of the ASP Ship Management Group, will time charter Matuku to Coastal Oil Logistics (COLL). COLL transports petroleum products from Refining NZ at Marsden Point to New Zealand’s ports on behalf of its shareholders BP Oil New Zealand, Mobil Oil New Zealand and Z Energy Group
In keeping with Silver Fern Shipping’s tradition, the Matuku is named after a native New Zealand bird – the Maori name for the Australasian Bittern. This endangered Australasian bird inhabits the wetlands of New Zealand and Australia.
The Matuku replaces one of COLL’s current tankers, Torea, which has been in service on New Zealand’s coast for the past eight years. A second 50,000dwt combined products/bitumen Eco tanker is currently being constructed for ASP Group by Hyundai Mipo shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. This new vessel will enter service in December 2017 and replace the Kakariki.
COLL chief executive Jon Kelly says the Matuku and the Kakariki replacement vessel will position COLL well to meet its shareholder’s future shipping needs in New Zealand. “This will be the most modern and efficient New Zealand operated vessel fleet on our coast,” he adds.
“Matuku will be substantially more fuel efficient than the Torea and there will be a large reduction in emissions as a result of that efficiency.”
Chief executive of ASP Ship Management Group, David Borcoski, says that after eight years’ working with COLL, ASP Group uniquely understands the importance of the coastal petroleum distribution task to New Zealand. “With the added capacities, Eco design and enhanced fuel efficiencies, these high quality vessels will bring a highly efficient shipping solution for COLL well into the future.”
The Torea will be returned to its owners at the end of the current time charter to COLL.
The tanker was built by SPP Ship Building Co in Sacheon, South Korea.
