KUALA LUMPUR: Straits Energy Resources Bhd’s unit Victoria STS (Labuan) Sdn Bhd has completed a ship-to-ship (STS) crude oil transfer operation for the first time ever at Victoria Bay, Labuan.

       Victoria STS chief executive officer Benjamin Bernard Bijon said that the first-ever STS transfer in Labuan water augured well for the development of the island’s maritime-related activities.

       “The STS operation involving 580,964 barrels of crude oil (worth approximately US$60mil) from Seria Brunei was successfully completed at one of the six approved berths with safe water depth of up to 30 metres, which is located next to the marine park of Kuraman Island. The operation, which was carried out smoothly, took approximately 20 hours and was completed early this morning,” he said in a statement.

       He added that the crude oil that was transferred from Nissos Tinos Majuro vessel to the 330-metre length C. Grace vessel is bound for South Korea.

       The STS operation was conducted about 10 nautical miles from Labuan, which is considered safe for such operations as the berth area is fit for a very large crude carrier.

       Victoria STS is an indirect subsidiary of Straits with specialist expertise in offshore handling of liquefied gas and bulk petroleum cargoes.

       The company received its first licence from the Marine Department Malaysia on July 31, 2021 to conduct STS operations within the Victoria port limit of Labuan.