Ocean-Phoenix Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

The shipping world remains abuzz as the 'Ocean Tiara', carrying a staggering 75,000 tons of super petrol, faces an uncertain fate off the coast of Mombasa. Since her arrival on March 19, 2020, this tanker has been marooned, primarily due to a dispute over fuel quality. On April 1, 2020, Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) officials concluded that the fuel onboard did not meet the necessary standards, leading to the vessel being ordered to depart. Despite initial paperwork indicating a Final Boiling Point (FBP) of 199.1 degrees Celsius—just below the 200 degrees Celsius threshold set by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)—the actual testing revealed an FBP of 204 degrees Celsius, disqualifying it for entry into the Kenyan market. The fuel in question, categorized under cargo number K07/2020, was imported by Asharami Synergy Ltd., a Nigerian oil company with vested interests across various regions in Africa. Adding complexity to the situation, the tanker’s owners enlisted independent witnesses to oversee the testing process, typically conducted at KPC's designated laboratory. Following the decision to reject the fuel, the 'Ocean Tiara' was required to vacate the Kipevu oil terminal to allow other vessels to dock, leading her to anchor off the picturesque Diani coast. In a turn of events marked by legal intricacies, international law firm HFW dispatched a letter to Nairobi on April 5, 2020, calling for either a retest of the fuel or for samples to be submitted to KEBS for a definitive assessment. This incident marks a notable precedent as it is the first case of an oil tanker being turned away from Kipevu due to low-quality fuel. Further solidifying KPC’s stance, Managing Director Macharia Irungu communicated with Rachel Mulungye, general manager of Supplycor Kenya Ltd., on April 2, 2020, affirming the rejection based on the fuel's failure to meet established quality standards.