SIMPSON BAY--Sol and Chevron have implemented a fifty per cent fuel restriction that went into effect on Friday, March 2, and will last throughout the Heineken Regatta weekend, Sol Aviation Operations Advisor Neville Alleyne informed PJIA officials Thursday.
This restriction applies to both General Aviation (GA) and commercial aircraft, except trans-Atlantic, he added. Alleyne informed PJIA operating company PJIAE on Friday morning that the Sol vessel was scheduled to arrive with the aviation fuel on March 2 at approximately 8:00pm and would offload on March 3. The recertification of the fuel is then expected during the morning hours of March 4, according to Alleyne.
The restriction is a precautionary measure due to high sales of fuel expected over the weekend coupled with low stock at both depots. Alleyne further revealed that airlines were to provide projected uplift volumes, "so that we can adjust the restriction if necessary."
Alleyne had given PJIAE a synopsis of the stock situation as of February 29 in which he informed the airport that the total stock of aviation fuel in St. Maarten on that date was 10,385 barrels. He further indicated that Sol projected the "highest daily uplift, taking into consideration the Heineken regatta" to be 2,478 barrels, which is about 50 per cent more than the projected average daily uplift of 1,673 barrels.
This means there would be five days' stock on hand, lasting until March 4, the last day of the regatta. The next vessels bringing fuel to the island are due on March 3 and March 5.
"We have taken this position in the event there are any vessel delays, sales exceed our projections or some other unforeseen circumstance," Alleyne explained. "Assuming that the ships arrive on time and sales remain constant, there should be no need for a restriction.
We will be monitoring the situation closely. Please plan accordingly."
Sol will advise on a return to normal fuelling operations by Monday, he said.
"There may be some delay in bridging product to Juliana due to the heavy traffic," Alleyne told PJIAE, while requesting assistance to provide some road clearance. "We have also put measures in place to constantly monitor the stock situation during the weekend, so that we are alerted to any rapid deterioration in the stock levels. As the news of this potential situation becomes known, we will also pay careful attention to the level of fuel being taken by GA based on what occurred recently."
PJIAE also is monitoring the situation closely.
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