Low sulphur fuel laws boost Falmouth bunkers trade
Falmouth's World Fuels sees 300% increase in bunker calls...




The Falmouth Harbour Commissioners have reported that bunkering activities in Falmouth have reached
record levels in recent months due to new European laws affecting the fuel use of ships.

The new regulations mean that the English Channel has been designated as a Sulphur Oxide Emissions
Control Area (SECA) by the EU. Vessels entering these areas are now required to burn fuel oil with a
sulphur content of less than 1.5% and so vessels planning to travel up the channel are stopping off at
Falmouth to take onboard the correct fuel.

The number of ships filling up on low sulphur fuel in Falmouth has risen from an average of 30 a month to
122 in October, an increase of 300%, which has led World Fuels to take on one new member of staff in
their Falmouth office to help co-ordinate the refuelling of the vessels in the port.

Although World Fuels in Falmouth has seen a three fold increase in bunker calls, the actual volume of
fuel sold has risen by 50% as many vessels are taking onboard the slightly more expensive low-sulphur
fuel in their auxiliary tanks for use in the SECA zones, rather than filling up their main fuel reserves.

The dramatic increase in bunker calls has also seen a rise in demand for the Falmouth Harbour
Commissioners’ pilot services, increasing from 139 in July to 332 piloted moves during the month of
October.

Falmouth Harbour Commissioner Captain Mark Sansom said: “The environmentally driven legislation has
created a significant boost to the port as we are now receiving ships for low-sulphur fuel bunker calls on
their way up to the English Channel which might not otherwise visit Falmouth.

Fortunately our new pilot boat ‘Arrow’ has enabled us to respond to the increased demand and we are
delighted that the new legislation has brought such an upturn in business for the port of Falmouth.”