Haiti’s Terminal Varreux receives fuel

HaitiÆs Terminal Varreux receives fuel    Terminal Varreux at Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is receiving its first tanker shipments of fuel since the devastating earthquake on Jan. 12.
   WIN Group, the Haitian operator of the terminal, said SEACOR Holdings helped it install an interim vessel mooring system, repair and test piping systems and revise the terminal's operating procedures. The terminal receives and stores more than 70 percent of Haiti's fuel.
   'Without fuel the recovery effort is clearly paralyzed,' said Youri Mevs, managing partner of privately held WIN Group, in a statement.
   'We commend SEACOR for mobilizing so quickly to address this dire situation, as well as WIN Group's staff in Port-au-Prince,' he added. 'They all worked around the clock through very challenging circumstances. As a result, Terminal Varreux will continue its key role as a key element in Haiti's long-term recovery efforts.'
   The first tanker began discharging its initial load of fuel at the restored berth on Feb. 5. The shipment was completed in the early morning hours on Feb. 7, and the vessel has departed from the terminal.
   Terminal Varreux is located five miles from the earthquake's epicenter, and suffered damage to its piers and facilities, but the bulk of the port's 18 storage tanks were undamaged. Terminal Varreux's tanks have a total capacity of about 45 million gallons.
   SEACOR provided a diverse team of experts along with helicopter and marine resources from its subsidiaries O'Brien Response Management, National Response Corp., and Era Helicopters.
   Additional emergency construction at Terminal Varreux has provided capability to receive containerized cargoes, furthering recovery efforts.