Bunker-only agency
A fuel stop at Port Said, Egypt, 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.
Port Said is the northern entrance of the Suez Canal, with the transshipment port at East Port Said, and vessels pass without stopping, so crew changes, spares, cash to master and provisions are delivered by launch during the transit, timed to the convoy. 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 Port Said 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.
A bunker call at Port Said starts with the stem: quantity, grade, supplier and the delivery mode the supplier offers. The desk files the port's notification, applies for the anchorage position or the berth, and fixes the delivery time with the supplier against the vessel's ETA and the weather forecast.
Owners still shopping for fuel are given the names of suppliers and traders serving the port; the desk does not sell fuel and does not take a margin on it.
At Port Said 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 Port Said as an anchorage visit with a purpose, and uses it: crew changes via Cairo 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.
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.
Nominate Maingate Shipping and the answer comes from Mombasa with a proforma DA attached.
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