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Trafigura, Mercuria switch bunkering to Mauritius in the middle of attacks, tax dispute, sources state

With more ships heading around the Cape of Excellent Hope due to attacks in the Red Sea region and a shutdown in their main South African bunkering operations, Mercuria and Trafigura have started refuelling services in Mauritius, four sources stated.

The two trading homes have opened operations in Port Louis to make up for the shutdown at South Africa's Algoa Bay which originates from a tax conflict with authorities, sources knowledgeable about the matter informed .

Algoa Bay is South Africa's only offshore ship-to-ship bunkering zone where tankers service passing ships at anchorage.

South African tax authorities (SARS) have detained vessels and suspended offshore refuelling operations for BP, Mercuria's Minerva Bunkering and Trafigura's Heron Marine pending an audit.

That has actually prompted ships taking the longer Cape of Great Hope route to utilize Port Louis or Walvis Bay in Namibia instead.

Trafigura verified it started operations in Mauritius in February after it formed a venture with local bunkering company Groupe Roland Maurel (GRM).

Demand for bunkering services in Port Louis have actually increased in recent months due to the disruption to shipping routes caused by the Red Sea circumstance, a TFG (Trafigura) Marine spokesperson stated.

Mercuria has partnered up with Engen Mauritius, part of Malaysia's Petronas, according to a local shipping representative who asked not to be determined as he is not enabled to speak with the press.

Mercuria and Engen Mauritius did not respond to ask for remark.

Yemen's Houthi militants have attacked lots of vessels with drones and missiles since November in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden. Last week the Rubymar cargo became the very first ship to sink following an attack.