Fuel stops
Vessels stemming bunkers at Port Louis appoint Maingate Shipping for the call and, where the trader also nominates us, for the delivery; one desk keeps both clocks and one account closes the stop. Attendance by our partner agent under Maingate's instruction.
A bunker-only call at Port Louis 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 capital port of Mauritius on the island's north-west coast gives the setting; Port Louis is an established Indian Ocean bunkering and crew change stop for vessels on the Cape route and for tuna fleets working the western Indian Ocean.
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.
Once the stem is fixed, the desk's work at Port Louis is timing: the port's permission window, the supply vessel's availability and the vessel's arrival aligned so that the transfer starts within hours of the anchor going down. The notification, the position and the supplier's confirmation are all in writing before the vessel arrives.
The master receives the delivery plan, the supplier's contact and the surveyor's name before the vessel is off the port.
Deliveries at Port Louis are by barge at the berth or by supply tanker alongside at the anchorage under the port permission for ship-to-ship transfer. A mooring master, fenders and hoses are arranged where the supply vessel comes alongside, and the transfer is timed to the weather window.
The boarding officer attends the connection, the soundings before and after, the sampling and the signing of the bunker delivery note, and records the times for the owner's account.
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 Port Louis as an anchorage visit with a purpose, and uses it: crew changes via Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International 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.
From anchor down to anchor up, the time is set by the quantity and the barge's pumping rate; the desk gives an estimate for each stem and keeps the vessel informed of the barge's movements.
Yes, with the roles written down so that each party knows whose instruction the desk follows for each task.
The owner's surveyor's figures are compared with the delivery note on the spot and a letter of protest is issued before the barge leaves; the desk keeps the documents for the claim.
Crew, spares, provisions, cash to master and medical attention, by the same launch or at the same berth.
One instruction, one account, one contact for the master and one for the principal.
The port call, the crew change and the supplier desk, one instruction line.
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