A safe ship-refuelling vessel significant in refuelling Mobil Customers with cleaner compliant marine fuels. 

July 2021 – Port of Tauranga’s seaport is the new home to the NZ marine fuels bunker barge, MT Korimako, that will play a significant role in refuelling coastal traders, international cargo ships and other large vessels operating in the Bay of Plenty region. The 65-metre MT Korimako is already helping to increase the efficiency of refuelling operations at the port for Mobil Oil New Zealand’s marine fuels customers. 

Arriving from Australia, where it has been in operation since it was commissioned in 2012, the Korimako – previously named the Anatoma – has been re-flagged to Aotearoa New Zealand. It commenced operation on 5 May. 

The company engaged the MT Korimako in Tauranga Moana to meet the needs of its customers, as well as improve Mobil’s marine refuelling capability and efficiency. The vessel brings additional capacity to the port, along with the superior safety features that would be expected on a state-of-the-art vessel.

“The MT Korimako will deliver noticeable improvements to the Port of Tauranga’s productivity by reducing waiting times for refuelling,” said Andrew McNaught, Mobil lead country manager. “The ability to fuel vessels berthed at Sulphur Point, as well as at the port’s land-based refuelling berths, will reduce port congestion as vessels will no longer have to wait for berth space to become available in order to refuel. In addition, the MT Korimako means that ships can be refuelled while they are loading or unloading cargo, which will be particularly useful in periods of high demand.

“Port of Tauranga is one of Aotearoa’s largest, busiest and fastest growing ports, so it’s vital that we find ways to ensure efficient and safe ship refuelling operations here. The new barge will have significant benefits for vessels entering Tauranga Moana by reducing congestion, helping both the port and the community,” said McNaught.

The new service offers two grades of IMO-compliant low-sulphur fuel at Sulphur Point, helping both international and domestic vessels meet the requirements of the International Maritime Organization’s latest global emission standard. 

The MT Korimako is the only marine refuelling vessel in Tauranga, New Zealand. It is operated by Mount Bunkering, a division of the ASP Ships Group. The company has extensive experience in the liquid fuels industry through its wholly owned subsidiary, Silver Fern Shipping, which presently carries and distributes approximately 65% of New Zealand’s liquid fuel products through its two tanker vessels, the MT Matuku and the MT Kokako.

The MT Korimako is extremely manouverable, with a bow thruster that will enable it to navigate narrow or tricky areas of the port, and has on-board emergency spill response capabilities.