Rosneft’s marketing subsidiary OJSC Samaranefteprodukt launched the second marine fueling station in the Samara region. As the first fueling facility commissioned in the fall of 2006, the new station is located at a tributary of the Volga river, and will service small-sized vessels, such as speedboats, jet-skis, yachts, etc.

According to General Director of Samaranefteprodukt Anatoly Samosudov, the region long lacked a fully-fledged vessel fueling infrastructure, and the demand for quality fueling services is now particularly acute. Furthermore, owners of powerful yachts often attempt to  perform fueling on their own, which infrequently leads to severe environmental impacts.

The situation has significantly improved with the  commissioning of the first floating bunkering facility. Mr. Samosudov noted that the project took a lot of time and effort as it was a pioneering initiative of the kind in Russia. The positive experience obtained in implementing and operating this project was decisive for future work and, consequently, the lunch of the second bunkering station. Rosneft will make extensive use of Samaranefteprodukt’s engineering and marketing expertise in  expanding its bunkering operations in the Moscow water area and on Baikal.

A floating bunkering station is a complex integrated facility whose core element is a fuel barge, where all filling equipment is located. The  facility also has a loading quay, and an onshore unloading platform for tank trucks. Petroleum products are fed to the barge via a hoseline. The loading process is controlled by an integrated anti-spill system. The loading quay also has a convenience store with a total area of more than 50 sq. m, where vessel spare parts, fishing equipment, and groceries are sold.

The new facility meets all current environmental and fire hazard regulations. It features an automated fire extinguishing and water cooling system, an absorption system to handle both onboard and external spills, and slick bars. In addition, a special contingency plan to tackle fuel spills was  designed for the station, which already has all necessary equipment for safe operations and efficient emergency management.

Samaranefteprodukt’s bunkering stations ensure almost year-round supplies of quality diesel fuel as well as regular and premium gasoline. During navigation season, fuel is sold primarily to owners of motor boats and yachts, while the most of winter customers are snowmobile owners. Bunkering stations are idle only in March, when the risk of ice drift is particularly high.