Changes to bunker supply in English Channel

While large ships burning low sulphur fuel are bunkered at anchor out in the bay or in the harbour, the smaller inshore vessels have been served by a fuel barge moored within the inner harbour, where many workboats and other commercial craft on passage around the south and west of the UK call in for diesel.

Falmouth Oil Services (a division of the Miami-based World Fuel Services), which has been supplying fuel to commercial vessels in the Cornish port for many years, has made a major change to its delivery procedure with the retirement of the fuel barge Falmouth Industry. A new fuel station has been established on the refurbished Eastern arm of the docks, where a pontoon has been installed and diesel fuel piped from the land supply.

Falmouth Industry (ex-Ulster Industry, and Humber Industry) is a Humber barge, built in 1961, with a gross tonnage of 257t and 420dwt. The vessel’s long history included a period when it traded across the Irish Sea from Liverpool. At some time in its history, the barge was cut in two and extended to install a freshwater tank in the new mid section. A second fuel barge Falmouth Jubilee has been moored nearby in the Penryn River for more than a year, awaiting dismantling/recycling.

The photo shows it being taken to a layup berth, assisted by the SWS workboat Boy Brendan.

By Graeme Ewens