Commodities trading firm BGN has entered the retail marine bunkering market in the United States, launching operations along the US Gulf Coast, according to Ship & Bunker. The company announced the move in a LinkedIn post published on Wednesday.
According to Ship & Bunker, BGN’s new bunkering business will supply HSFO, VLSFO, and MGO to vessels calling at ports across the Gulf Coast region. To support the rollout, the firm has partnered with Houston-based Centerline Logistics Corporation, chartering two bunker barges, the Jackson Eades and the MGI 2100.
Initial Focus on Fleet Supply
Ship & Bunker reports that BGN’s immediate priority will be refuelling its own fleet, which includes around 40 owned and chartered LPG carriers. The company said this approach will give it greater control over fuel procurement and vessel operations.
Beyond servicing its own vessels, BGN also intends to market its bunker supply services to third-party shipowners operating in the Gulf Coast region, according to the report.
Company Comments on Strategy
Harry Thwaites, Head of Fuel Oil, Feedstocks and Marine Fuels at BGN, was quoted by Ship & Bunker as saying the Gulf Coast represents “one of the world’s most important shipping and energy hubs, making it the ideal location to establish our first retail bunkering operation.”
Thwaites added that BGN plans to expand into other major international ports as it continues building out its marine fuels trading platform globally, according to the report.
Does This Matter to You?
This development may be relevant to those tracking new entrants into the US Gulf Coast bunkering supply chain. BGN’s move to charter dedicated barges and offer HSFO, VLSFO, and MGO could introduce additional third-party supply capacity into a major bunkering hub, according to Ship & Bunker.
The partnership with Centerline Logistics for barge operations may also be of interest to those monitoring logistics arrangements and infrastructure supporting Gulf Coast fuel delivery. As BGN has indicated plans to expand into other international ports, this launch could be an early signal of broader changes to its role in global marine fuel trading, per the source material.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
