Staatsolie outsources water transport of oil products

Staatsolie has been shipping its products to customers by water with its own boats for over 35 years and, after careful evaluation, has decided to outsource the barging operations. To ensure that activities are carried out efficiently and in accordance with regulations, Staatsolie has partnered with Holland Energy Services B.V. (HES) for the technical management and N.V. Scheepvaart Maatschappij Suriname (SMS) for the operational management. This strategic partnership allows Staatsolie to focus on its core activities (oil production and refining), while HES and SMS take care of shipping the oil products to customers.

The new inland river barge, Rhode Island, arrived in Suriname on 11 March 2025. The ship docked for the first time on 12 March at the Staatsolie jetty at Tout Lui Faut and was ceremoniously welcomed. In attendance were Eddy Fränkel, Director Downstream & Power of Staatsolie, Jack Geense, owner of HES, and Joyce Rozenhout, director of SMS.

The Rhode Island is a modern double-hulled barge that meets the regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS) and the requirements of international oil and gas companies.

The Rhode Island replaces the Staatsolie-V, which had been in operation since 1988. Like the Staatsolie-V, the Rhode Island will be used to deliver fuel to seagoing vessels calling at the ports of Suriname. The Rhode Island will also supply diesel to companies carrying out activities in Suriname's offshore oil and gas sector. Furthermore, the Rhode Island will deliver fuel oil to the power plant of Energiebedrijven Suriname (EBS) on Saramaccastraat and diesel to other local customers.