<p data-path-to-node="5"> <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="23">New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA)</b> has entered into a comprehensive <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="92">five-year agreement with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)</b>, India’s flagship national energy corporation, to enhance, modernize, and expand dedicated <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="246">marine bunkering facilities</b> at Panambur, Mangaluru.</p><p data-path-to-node="6">Under the multi-year concession framework, IOCL will leverage NMPA’s specialized liquid jetty and oil berth infrastructure to streamline the supply, storage, and quayside delivery of marine fuels predominantly Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), Low Sulphur Heavy Stock (LSHS), and High-Speed Diesel (HSD) to international merchant vessels and domestic coastal shipping fleets calling at the major port.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="8">Key Operational Highlights &amp; Strategic Roadmap</h3><ul data-path-to-node="9"><li><p data-path-to-node="9,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Five-Year Long-Term Bunkering Partnership:</b> The formal agreement establishes a stable, multi-year operating framework between NMPA and IOCL, securing reliable fuel allocation, dedicated tankage connections, and standardized marine refueling procedures.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Expanding Bunkering Delivery Mechanisms:</b> The arrangement encompasses direct-berth pipeline bunkering at designated oil berths alongside dedicated barge-to-ship refueling services within port basin limits and inner anchorages, granting ocean carriers high operational flexibility without disrupting cargo-handling windows.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">IMO 2020 Compliance and Marine Fuel Quality:</b> Fuel supplies administered under this agreement adhere strictly to International Maritime Organization (IMO) sulphur cap standards, ensuring guaranteed availability of 0.50% VLSFO and compliant marine gas oil (MGO) for foreign-going container, dry-bulk, and liquid tanker vessels.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,3,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,3,0" data-index-in-node="0">Capitalizing on Strategic West Coast Geography:</b> Located on the Arabian Sea littoral along primary regional tanker and dry cargo routes connecting the Gulf, India, and Southeast Asia, New Mangalore Port offers low-deviation bunkering options, incentivizing passing tonnage to call for quick bunker-only turnarounds.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,4,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,4,0" data-index-in-node="0">Synergy with Mangalore Refinery:</b> Sourcing fuel directly from IOCL’s integrated supply lines and the nearby coastal refining ecosystem significantly cuts transportation overheads, ensuring competitive delivered bunker pricing relative to regional competitor hubs.</p></li></ul>