THE Croatian-built tanker Stena Paris was in port last week to deliver 5000 metric tonnes of fuel.
Local shipping agent Campbell Shipping said the vessel, manned by a 24-member crew, called into Suva and Vuda to deliver fuel for Mobil and Total.
The Stena Paris, which according to the website www.concordiamaritime.com was built in 2005, left Fiji for Prony in Noumea, Vavouto in New Caledonia and Papeete to deliver the same.
She is carrying fuel from Singapore, Campbell Shipping said. The Stena Paris’ previous trip to Fiji was last month.
Meanwhile the oil and chemical tanker Iver Exporter, which is scheduled to arrive in Fiji on February 1, is another of the few tankers to Fiji facilitated by Campbell Shipping.
She is expected to arrive in Fiji with more than 5000 metric tonnes of fuel as she sails on to Vuda and Noumea.
The Iver Exporter, built in 2000 and arriving on this trip from Singapore, is expected to deliver 5000 metric tonnes of fuel to Fiji when she arrives next month, Campbell Shipping said.
Campbell Shipping says it facilitates in the transition of a few tankers to the country.
The Iver Exporter, with its 27-strong crew, previously arrived in the country in November last year with 17,264 metric tonnes of petroleum products that included petroleum gasoline, regular unleaded gasoline, kerosene, automotive diesel fuel and ultra-low sulfured diesel.
Weather permitting, it takes 16 to 17 days to sail from Singapore to Fiji.
During its visit last year, the Iver Exporter delivered more fuel at Vuda marina as Campbell Shipping explained, “Vuda being a hub of the Pacific, where small tanker ships arrive to take petroleum bulk from Fiji to be shipped to other small Pacific Nations such as Tarawa, Nauru, Kiribati and others.”
Captain of the vessel is Peter Reinsma who started his sailing career in 1986. He said his sailing career began in 1986 on a general cargo vessel before he switched to tankers in 1993. And since 2003, he has been sailing as skipper.
On board the tanker, regular physical exercise is compulsory for all crew members to cater for incidents of emergency such as fire drills, he pointed out.
The vessel has a gym. “But there is also time for relaxing, to watch DVD, or play a game on the X-box,” he said.
