Bunker-only agency
Maingate Shipping acts as agent for bunker-only calls at Durban: the port notification, the anchorage or berth, the barge or supply tanker's timing, the surveyors and the bunker delivery note, with crew, spares, provisions and cash fitted into the same stop. Our partner agent at the port attends; the Mombasa desk coordinates and reports.
Durban is the largest general cargo port in sub-Saharan Africa, on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, and ship repair, drydocking and a full range of marine contractors are available in port, which makes Durban a natural place to combine a cargo call with maintenance. Vessels on passage call for bunkers without loading cargo, and a bunker call is judged by one measure: how long the vessel is off passage. Maingate Shipping's bunker call agency at Durban is built around that measure.
The desk is appointed by owners, managers, operators and by the bunker traders and suppliers themselves. Where the supplier and the receiving vessel both nominate Maingate, one desk coordinates both sides of the delivery and the vessel receives one account.
Bunker deliveries are where quantity disputes are born. Surveyors for the vessel's interests attend soundings and sampling, the bunker delivery note is witnessed, and any protest is recorded at the time so that the owner has the evidence if the figures are argued later.
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 Durban 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.
A bunker call is the moment to change crew, land spares, take provisions and deliver cash to master, and the desk fits these into the same stop through King Shaka International Airport and by launch. Nothing waits for a separate visit.
The account shows the port charges, the agency fee, the launch hire and the services delivered, each with its receipt, and reconciles against the advance.
Yes. Ship repair, drydocking and a full range of marine contractors are available in port, which makes Durban a natural place to combine a cargo call with maintenance.
The owner, manager or operator for the vessel's side; the trader or physical supplier for the delivery; sometimes both on one instruction with the roles set out.
Not compulsory, but the desk recommends an owner's surveyor at every delivery; the cost is small against a quantity dispute.
Port charges and third-party services at cost with receipts, plus an agency fee agreed in the proforma DA before the call.
One instruction, one account, one contact for the master and one for the principal.
Desks that go with a fuel stop at Durban.
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Maingate Shipping Limited · Express Building, Moi Avenue, Mombasa, Kenya · ops@maingateshipping.com · +254 784 622 091