The vessel joins the company’s existing fleet in order to expand Harvest Energy Marine’s delivery infrastructure in northwestern European waters.
The tanker will assist and benefit from the Prax Group’s established supply and storage network in the UK and continental Europe, as well as opportunities arising from its operations throughout the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp region. The addition of this latest vessel to the Group’s fleet demonstrates its commitment to meet the needs of customers seeking fast and efficient delivery of compliant fuels, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The 123-metre Fortuna I has a deadweight of 7,915 DWT. The ship can carry Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), and marine gas oil, and will operate between Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery in Immingham, in the northeast of the UK, and Prax Terminals Belgium, in the port of Zeebrugge. As well as being able to supply product to ports right across northwestern Europe, Fortuna I can also provide ship-to-ship bunkering on the high seas.
Geert Boden, General Manager of Harvest Energy Marine, said: “I am delighted to announce the purchase of Fortuna I, which forms part of our long-term strategic objective of investment, growth and development. This purchase demonstrates our proactive approach to the ever-changing needs of our customers in the marine fuels environment and our commitment to build a robust and reliable supply chain to meet those needs. It is the natural evolution in our progression towards making Harvest Energy Marine a leading player in the global marine market. We are in a great place to respond to the requirements of our customers, both new and existing, in order to continue to deliver innovative solutions to reduce refueling times at a competitive price, whilst providing customers with their most important resource.”