As stated earlier, this will result in considerably less idle time for larger ships passing through the Panama Canal to pick up bunkers.

According to Monjasa, the 8,839 dwt Monjasa Supplier is now supplying low sulphur marine gas oil (LSMGO) and very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and, for the first time, the Panama Canal now sees feasible bunker only calls at Cristobal's outer anchorage.

"Panama is a great historic shipping destination and as a local partner to the maritime community, Monjasa aims to strengthen operations and evolve the bunker industry by improving tonnage quality and flexibility around the Panama Canal,” commented Rasmus Jacobsen, Managing Director, Monjasa Americas.

From Cristobal to Balboa, both ships transiting the Panama Canal face varying wait times.

Smaller vessels, on the other hand, can use the time to take bunkers; however, larger vessels that exceed inner anchorage limits do not have the same opportunity to reduce voyage costs. Instead, when they arrived at Balboa, they had to lower anchor once more to refuel.

Monjasa Supplier's rough weather capabilities, as compared to the current local barge fleet, are said to make a major difference to shipping companies by minimizing idle time by 24-48 hours.

Maritime Business World