Colombia has become an important bunkering location for customers, including a growing business for “bunker only calls”. Colombia has a democratically elected government, a growing economy, and trade agreements with the United States. The U.S. state department reports that security has improved markedly in Colombia’s key commerce centers over the past few years, citing Cartagena and Barranquilla as examples. Bunkers International and Vanoil Ltda are the leading supplier of marine fuel in Colombia, supplying in the ports of Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, and Buenaventura.
Bunkers International, along with our strategic joint venture partner Vanoil S.A. have become the leading independent fuel supplier in Colombia by providing excellent fuel quality, on time service, and competitive prices. This helps make the choice for Colombia as a bunkering location even more compelling.
Over recent years there have been major improvements in the Cartagena port, our largest fueling location. Cartagena has changed to a 365/24 schedule in the port, keeping it always open. The Colombian port authority has also increased security and services throughout the port. The Cartagena Port Authority has dredged all the main channels, enabling Bunkers International to handle bunkers only calls for Aframax size vessels.
Bunkers International is also the main supplier of IFOs on Colombia's Pacific Ocean coast. We provide all blends of IFOs by barge in the port of Buenaventura Colombia. Our product is the same high quality, low sulfur product that we sell in Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta.
High-Quality low sulphur fuel
Bunkers International uses a combination of exclusive supply sources and computerized blending to produce a high-quality of IFO fuel with great properties. Many customers come to Cartagena for bunkers-only calls to stock-up on low sulphur fuel at a much lower price than they can get in Gibraltar or other locations before they head towards ECA-compliance zones. The combination of high-quality low sulphur fuel and competitive pricing make Cartagena a great alternative to Panama for many Europe-bound customers.
We use only high quality straight-run IFO which features low sulphur, metals and minerals; and we blend only with diesel oil. Our IFO 380 cSt has a typical sulphur content of 1.3%, 150 – 170 ppm of Vanadium, and 13 CCR. All other specifications are well within ISO standards. Additionally, all Bunkers International products and deliveries are Marpol 73/78 Annex IV compliant.
Competitive Pricing
Bunkers International pricing in Colombia is generally better than all other options in the Caribbean and better than most U.S. ports. Depending on the volume and the markets, prices can be competitive with the U.S. Gulf.
Buenaventura pricing is generally better than most of the ports to the south, from Ecuador to Chile, and depending on the volume and market conditions usually better than Panama.
For customers going to Europe ECA zones, it is often very beneficial to visit Cartagena after passing through the Panama Canal to stock up on low sulphur fuels. The cost of the bunkers-only call are more than offset by the savings from not buying more expensive ECA-compliant fuel at European ports.
Bunkers International monitor’s prices globally and notifies our customers of prices and trends as needed. Our goal is to provide the highest quality product at a very fair price, with an ontime and efficient delivery.
First Class Service
At Bunkers International, our goal is to have the highest quality marine fuel products, delivered with the most efficient and safe process, by the most experienced people, at the best price. Our crews are well-trained and knowledgeable and we exceed all local safety regulations and export rules. Bunkers International provides both IFO and MGO fuels inclusive of all port charges and fuel charges on one invoice.
Bunkers International and Vanoil, through their affiliated company BunkersOil Ltda., own five bunker barges ranging from 1000 metric tons (mt) - 5000 mt. Bunkers International also operates three additional barges, with a total capacity of approximately 9500 tons of marine fuel. All of our barges have a minimum of two pumps, and most have four or more for redundancy and increased pumping capacity. We conduct in-line drip sampling on each delivery and regularly test our products to insure they meet and exceed industry standards.
To insure quality, the BunkersOil team uses state of the art computer programs as well as extensive hands-on training programs for all of our crew, who are the most experienced in Colombia. Our exclusive blending software is used on all of our barges. This system has the ability to simulate the entire pipeline and tank infrastructure on our barges. Our crews are able to run a simulation on any blend scenario before making the customer’s fuel blend.
To protect the environment, all of our barges carry booms, absorption pads, spill cleaning chemicals, as well as boats used for boom deployment. We conduct regular safety drills and training to keep our staff up-to-date on procedures.
Bunkers International and BunkersOil team members are available to insure that deliveries go as planned. In-country staffing is maintained at high levels to insure that our team is ready to handle any issues that arise.
The Best Team
Bunkers International is staffed with industry veterans who bring with them a broad range of experience in all aspects of the bunkering business. The majority of our employees bring with them decades of relevant experience, having worked as physical suppliers, terminal operators, and aboard ships. The local Colombian team is made up of engineers, managers, former navy officers and tanker men who work closely with the trading and operation teams in Orlando to insure that each delivery is performed safely and on-time. Bunkers International provides ongoing training to all of our employees to keep them up on the latest industry regulations, local procedures and regulations. Our team will settle for nothing but the best for our customers.
Contact us with your fueling needs.