Bunker-only agency
A fuel stop at Algiers, Algeria, on one instruction: permission, position, barge, surveyor, delivery note and departure, with the crew change and the spares done by the same launch. Partner agent alongside, Mombasa desk coordinating.
A bunker-only call at Algiers has three clocks running: the vessel's passage, the barge or supply tanker's schedule and the port's permission window. Maingate Shipping's desk sets them to the same time. The bay of Algiers on the Algerian coast gives the setting; visa lead times for foreign crew are longer than elsewhere in North Africa, so crew changes are planned weeks ahead.
Owners, operators and managers appoint the desk for the vessel's side; traders and physical suppliers appoint it for the delivery. Both can be on one instruction, with the roles written down.
The boarding officer attends the connection, the soundings and the sampling, and the bunker delivery note is signed with any protest already recorded, because a dispute discovered a week later has no evidence behind it.
The vessel advises her ETA and the quantity and grade stemmed. The desk files the port's notification for a bunker-only call, secures the anchorage position or the berth, and confirms the barge or supply tanker's timing with the supplier so that the vessel is not waiting for the fuel and the fuel is not waiting for the vessel.
Where the vessel has not yet stemmed, the desk introduces suppliers and traders serving the port and passes their offers to the owner without taking a position in the sale.
At Algiers the barge comes alongside at the berth, and anchorage deliveries are arranged where the port permits them. The desk fixes the mode with the supplier, obtains the permission and books the equipment.
Connection, opening soundings, pumping, closing soundings and disconnection are attended and timed by the boarding officer, so that the account shows what happened.
Surveyors appointed by the owner attend the delivery and issue their quantity report. Where the vessel's figures and the supplier's figures differ, a letter of protest is issued and recorded before the barge lets go. The desk keeps the samples' custody documentation with the delivery note.
For traders and suppliers appointing the desk, the same attendance serves their side of the delivery, with the roles set out in writing.
The desk treats a bunker call at Algiers as an anchorage visit with a purpose, and uses it: crew changes via Houari Boumediene Airport, spares in transit, provisions, cash and medical attention all go out by the same launch or alongside the same berth.
Every service is a line in the account with its receipt, and the final DA reconciles against the advance within the agreed days.
Bunkers are delivered at the berth and by barge; the desk confirms the anchorage option for each call.
No. The desk acts as agent for the call and, where appointed, for the supplier's delivery; it does not trade fuel.
Yes. Crew, spares, provisions and cash to master are fitted into the same stop.
The boarding officer attends throughout, and independent surveyors appointed by the owner attend the soundings and sampling and issue the quantity report.
Receipts behind every line, a record behind every stoppage, a desk behind every call.
Bunker calls sit with port agency and anchorage services on the same desk.
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Maingate Shipping Limited · Express Building, Moi Avenue, Mombasa, Kenya · ops@maingateshipping.com · +254 784 622 091