We will increase number and tonnage of deliveries by 20%

West Bunker, operating in the ship fuel and supply sector, continues to grow by providing services in all ports of Turkey and the world. Halil Uysal, the founder of the company, states that they realize fast and efficient supply 24/7 and adds: "In 2023, we left behind a good year by delivering 9,200 MTS lubricants, 16,000 MTS MGO and VLSFO to over 2000 ships without any problems. In 2024, we aim to increase the number of supplies and tonnage by 20%."

Founded in 2017 by Halil Uysal, West Bunker Petrol Denizcilik is a company that supplies oil and fuel to ships in ports all over the world, also known as bunker sector. It is a company that prioritizes feasibility and accessibility, complies with all IMO rules, takes the necessary safety precautions and incorporates many brands.

Uysal listed the points where they supply in Turkey and said, "The first place is the Istanbul Iron Region, with Tuzla and Yalova shipyards taking the second place. We are a company with supply capability in all ports in Turkey, especially in Izmir, Aliağa, Iskenderun, Mersin and Izmit. Shipyards are the most challenging supply points among all supply operations. Thanks to the devoted work of our operation team and their location and timing coordination with shipyard engineers, we complete the deliveries without any problems." 

24/7 fast and efficient procurement

Speaking about the product range of his company, Uysal said, "As West Bunker, we always have over 2000 barrels and over 3000 cans (synthetic, bio, grease, and special lubricants) in our stocks to serve our valued customers 24/7. We have 3 warehouses in Tuzla, Çekmeköy and Beykoz in Istanbul. In terms of supply and delivery, West Bunker's own fuel tanker M / T West, which has a capacity of 325 thousand liters, supplies in the Istanbul Iron Region. In addition, we serve with our own land fleet and our own team in order to make fast and efficient delivery from our warehouses 24/7. West Bunker, which is in contact with almost all companies abroad, has mastered many inquiries for Turkish ports. Our company works with many traders and suppliers known worldwide. At the same time, our company is a member of IBIA (International Bunker Industry Association), which is known and accepted all over the world."

We resupply without breaking the route

Uysal said that West Bunker has contracted with laboratories that are known, accepted and accredited worldwide, "We determine the service life of the oil used in the light of laboratory tests and ensure that our customers are informed by our technical team after the supply. In this way, we are able to bring together the most suitable and highest quality product that can be supplied for our customer and supply it without breaking its route."

Our growth target for 2024 is 20%

Uysal said, "In 2023, we left behind a good year by delivering 9,200 MTS Lubricants, 16,000 MTS MGO and VLSFO to over 2000 ships without any problems. In 2024, we aim to increase our supply number and tonnage by 20%. In order to achieve this goal, we realize all our investments and plans by prioritizing customer satisfaction."

He is the chairman of Turkiye Bunker Assositation

West Bunker Founding General Manager Halil Uysal has also been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkey Bunker Assositation since 2023. Stating that the association continues its activities by increasing the number of members in 2024, Halil Uysal said, "We continue our work by keeping all oil and fuel companies together under the roof of the association and to find solutions to the problems of our sector.

Requirement of supervision of officers

Uysal said, "The actors in the market do not apply a fixed price application to barging prices, in general terms, the high prices applied by storage companies in rents. It is a good situation that the requirement of supervision of officers in replenishment is allowed, albeit within the framework of certain rules. The shortage of qualified personnel in bunker barges continues. Various solutions can be produced in consultation with the relevant authorities. For example, can this training be given at vocational high school level and graduates be given a license? Or for a certain period of time, for example, those who have at least 10 years of bunker barge experience are given the opportunity to become a captain wheelwright for the oiler seaman staff, provided that it is for one time only."

No harbor for barges to shelter

Uysal said that in order for ships that make port voyages limited to 100 miles to return to cabotage voyage when necessary, assistance should be requested from the administration on technical issues such as land inspection, "The pilotage and tugboat obligation of the tonnage bunker barges we use in orders over 3,000 M/T causes serious differences in the cost of operation. However, our captains using these ships have docked at ports and crossed the Bosphorus hundreds of times; we can show them as an example to answer the question of what is real experience. The barges should become mandatory for the cruise ships coming to Galataport and a letter of guarantee should be requested from the P&I clubs."