Turkish bunker supplier deploys two new barges6th October 2009 15:32 GMTIstanbul: Arkas serves the Marmara and Aegean marketsTurkey's Arkas Bunkering has deployed two new bunker barges.A statement from the company said the Bornova and Urla 1 would serve in the Marmara (Istanbul) and Aegean. “With the addition of these two barges, Arkas Bunkering has raised its capacity to 7,100 deadweight tonnes (dwt) and will be able to complete bunkering operations for passenger ships, Ro-Ro and container vessels more rapidly,” said the statement.It said the newly built Urla 1 was the first double-hull barge to be deployed in the Turkish bunker market.It has two main engines, a bow thruster and a pumping capacity of 300 cubic metres per hour (cbm/hr).Arkas Bunkering now has seven tankers in its fleet.It said it had plans to strengthen its fleet with more double-hull barges.In detail, Arkas said the Urla 1 had a 1,646 dwt capacity and could deliver intermediate fuel oil (IFO) and marine gasoil (MGO).The Bornova was described as 1,107 dwt with an IFO puming capacity of 250 cbm/hr. It too can deliver MGO.Arkas Bunkering is a subsidiary of the Arkas Group, a conglomerate of over 41 companies working in transport, logistics and port operations.It began operating as a physical supplier early this year after acquiring four storage tanks at the Solventas Terminal in Izmit, east of Istanbul.The Turkish bunker supplier CYE Petrol has a double bottomed bunker tanker opertaing in the Turkish market, the 3,300 metric tonne (mt) capacity BEBEK-E.Nick Jameson
