On 17 November 2025 the Vitol-owned Singapore flag barge Marine Ista (8,722dwt) was the first bunker barge to load directly from Karachi Port Trust Oil Pier (instead of through trucks) and supply the largest VLSFO stem to date in Pakistan, to a vessel owned and operated by MSC (the world’s largest shipping company) at DP World Port Qasim Authority.
The fuel was part of the first large-scale production of IMO-compliant low sulphur fuel oil in Pakistan. It was produced at Pakistan’s largest refinery, Cnergyico, from the first US crude oil, delivered by Vitol, to be refined in Pakistan.
As part of an ongoing collaboration, Cnergyico will supply Vitol with VLSFO on a continuous basis. This initiative marks a significant milestone for Pakistan’s energy and maritime sectors, enabling the local production and supply of environmentally compliant marine fuels.
Ammar Hussaini of Vitol Bunkers said: “Our new locations: Karachi Port, Port Qasim, and Karachi Anchorage, Pakistan will be served by our vessel, the Marine Ista, which has the capacity to supply 6,800mt of marine fuel in a single delivery, enabling large vessels to do long east to west voyages.”
