Ignacio Gallego, maritime captain of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, has refuted claims that the 7% decrease in fuel supply at La Luz this year is due to his refusal to authorize a barge operating in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The president of the Port Authority, Beatriz Calzada, had expressed her complaint about this situation, noting that the vessel is loaded in Las Palmas but supplies in Tenerife, with the supply being counted in the latter port.
Gallego recalled that the barge in question does not meet the safety requirements established in an instruction from the Maritime Captaincy of Las Palmas dated April 2019, which has been in effect for seven years. The maritime captain questioned the argument about the drop in 'bunkering', wondering why the growth of the past seven years was not affected if the same instruction already prevented this barge from operating. He emphasized that the Captaincy merely inspects compliance with maritime safety requirements, and the final license is granted by the Port Authority.
Significant safety differences exist between the port of Las Palmas and that of Tenerife, according to Gallego. The higher traffic density in La Luz and a less sheltered anchorage area compared to the Tenerife port justify stricter safety requirements for barges. "It is not a whim that a barge can operate in one port and not another," he stated, comparing the requirements in Las Palmas to those of other major ports like Algeciras.
The 2019 instruction mandates that barges must have two shafts (propellers) and two rudders to ensure sufficient and safe maneuverability during approach and alongside operations. A dual propulsion system offers redundancy and facilitates a return to port in case of failure, representing a "safety plus," Gallego explained.
While acknowledging that on occasion barges not fully meeting all requirements have been allowed to operate, it was always under specific conditions such as the presence of a pilot and a tugboat. Gallego also suggested that adverse weather, which has led to canceled operations and suspended offshore supplies for weeks, could be a reason for the 'bunkering' decline, insisting that "the barge is not to blame."
Data shows a nearly 7% drop in fuel supply at the port of Las Palmas between January and May, equivalent to approximately 78,000 fewer tons, totaling 1.16 million tons. In May, the supply was 222,707 tons. Conversely, the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife saw a 30% increase during the same period, reaching 379,791 tons, although it also experienced a decrease in May.
