Tanker Betamax: More fear than harm for a maiden voyage

13 years, 6 months ago - 31 May 2011

Petroleum products transported to Port Louis by the MV Red Eagle, the tanker Betamax Ltd have suffered no contamination by spoilage. The landing of the MV Red Eagle goes as planned so far.

The direction of the State Trading Corporation is pleased with the smooth running of operations in that it is the final delivery of petroleum products. MT Red Eagle docked the harbor of Port-Louis on the night of Friday, May 27 The product began landing on Saturday morning after the first audits have proved inconclusive.

The authorities did not hide their fear about the risks of contamination by alteration that included ferrying petroleum products of various kinds to board a tanker. Yet that is what provides the exclusive contract granted in 2009 Betamax Ltd., a consortium of the company Betonix Ltd and the Singapore company, Executive Ship Management Ltd., to transport petroleum products for the Mauritian market.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce has even expressed its "concern" in Parliament last Tuesday for the first crossing of the Red Eagle MT Mangalore Port-Louis. Showkutally Soodhun had said extremely concerned by this situation and the risk of contamination.

Especially a report Insight Forensics Services Ltd., a company headed by former director of investigations of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Roshi Bhadain to estimated losses incurred by STC from 2009 to date to more than Rs 100 million.

This is the first time a tanker delivers seven different petroleum products. The quantity of goods received in a delivery by the STC is also unusual MT Red Eagle has indeed embarked on board some 57 500 tonnes of petroleum products. The cargo consists of what in the jargon, is called "white oils" such as gasoline, diesel and Jet A1 fuel used in aviation and various types of heavy oil sector, especially for industrial and power generation.

However, Betamax Ltd has been able to circumvent the risk that haunted the minds for some time. The landing of risk products such as Jet A1, petrol and diesel went smoothly. Jet A1 was delivered in tanks STC Saturday, as diesel and gasoline were transferred from the boat yesterday and yesterday respectively.

Delivery of black oils, that is to say, the heavy oil is expected to begin this morning to end the evening. MT Red Eagle left Mauritius in the coming days to reach Mangalore where he will carry a new cargo between 8 and 10 June on behalf of STC. He will return to Port-Louis to June 20.