Photos: Hambantota International Port Hambantota International Port (HIP) has launched the wholesale supply bunker fuels with Sinopec which it believes will bring competitive pricing for refueling at the Sri Lankan port.
HIP has formed a strategic partnership with Sinopec Fuels of Lanka (SOFL) which intends to expand Sri Lanka’s share of the regional bunker market and has invested over $5m in a tanker which flies the Sri Lankan flag.
Operations have now started with local bunker supplier Lanka Marine Services (LMS) as SOFL’s first buyer supplying very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) to the tanker Suez Hans enroute from Chennai to Suez. The tanker refueled at the Hambantota Port anchorage via oil barge Kumana, chartered to LMS by HIP.