Petrostar Maroc has successfully executed its first Ship-to-Ship (STS) bunkering operation at the Port of Agadir using the Moroccan-flagged tanker MT PS OUFELLA to refuel the MT CHALLAH. This historic milestone marks a strategic shift toward national energy sovereignty and directly supports the Royal Vision of King Mohammed VI to position Morocco as a dominant regional maritime and logistics hub.
Agadir, Morocco | May 10, 2026 – In a milestone development that signals a profound shift in North Africa’s maritime energy dynamics, Petrostar Maroc has successfully completed its first Ship-to-Ship (STS) bunkering operation at the Port of Agadir.
The operation marks a technical breakthrough for the company and serves as a major advancement for Morocco’s broader geopolitical ambition to establish itself as an unassailable regional maritime and logistics heavyweight.
Retaking the Reins of National Energy Flows
The operation carried immense operational and symbolic weight, executed entirely between two vessels flying the Moroccan flag: the newly deployed oil tanker MT PS OUFELLA and the MT CHALLAH.
For decades, coastal bunkering and oil cabotage along the strategic Moroccan coastline have been heavily dominated by foreign shipowners and international tonnage. By introducing the MT PS OUFELLA into active service, Petrostar Maroc, under the strategic leadership of Founder and CEO Yassine El Omari, is spearheading the gradual reappropriation of national energy flows. This operation effectively demonstrates that domestic maritime companies now possess the asset base and technical sophistication to handle high-stakes, offshore marine fuel transfers independently.
- Location: Port of Agadir, Morocco (Atlantic Coast)
- Supplying Tanker: MT PS OUFELLA (Moroccan Flag / Petrostar Maroc)
- Receiving Vessel: MT CHALLAH (Moroccan Flag)
- Technical Manager: DERNAK Ship Management
- Compliance Standard: Full Moroccan Regulatory & International Maritime Best Practices
Powering the Royal Maritime Vision
This successful ship-to-ship transfer directly aligns with the Royal Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, which focuses on aggressively modernizing Morocco’s maritime infrastructure to transform the Kingdom into a primary logistics hub linking Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
While the Mediterranean coast has long been anchored by the massive Tangier Med complex, this milestone shifts the spotlight to the Atlantic. By embedding flexible, round-the-clock STS bunkering capabilities into the Port of Agadir, Petrostar Maroc is structurally enhancing the commercial attractiveness of Morocco’s southern maritime corridor. Providing high-quality, bonded bunker fuel directly at sea ensures greater fluidity for international commercial fleets, fishing vessels, and regional cargo traffic, significantly reducing port turnaround times.
Seamless Institutional Synergies
Executing an offshore STS operation requires flawless multi-agency synchronization. Petrostar Maroc highlighted that the operation was completed in absolute compliance with safety, environmental, and operational protocols, giving credit to the robust cooperation of several key Moroccan institutions:
- The Agence Nationale des Ports (ANP): Acknowledged for the flawless coordination provided by both its central and regional Agadir teams.
- The Directorate of Ports and Maritime Public Domain.
- The Directorate of Merchant Marine: Ensuring strict compliance with international maritime safety frameworks.
- The Customs and Indirect Tax Administration: Especially the Regional Directorate of Agadir, whose swift administrative oversight allowed for the seamless clearance of bonded marine fuels.
Operational success was further secured by the expert execution of the crew aboard the MT PS OUFELLA and the technical oversight of DERNAK Ship Management.
Petrostar Maroc: Scaling for Global Demands
Founded in 2012 in Agadir and accredited by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Petrostar Maroc has evolved from a regional distributor into a fully integrated energy player.
While the company maintains a commanding national presence in industrial B2B fuel supply, retail service stations, and premium lubricants, its maritime bunkering wing is rapidly scaling. Backed by solid partnerships with major global operators and a 24/7/365 infrastructure capable of delivering via truck, pipeline, marine stations, and now Ship-to-Ship (STS), Petrostar is uniquely positioned to meet the rigid demands of modern international shipping lines.
As global shipping lanes seek out secure, highly efficient, and strategically located bunkering alternatives outside of traditional European hubs, Petrostar Maroc’s latest achievement signals to the international community that Morocco’s Atlantic gateway is open for business, and fully capable of delivering world-class maritime energy solutions.
Commenting on the historic operation, Yassine El Omari, Founder and CEO of Petrostar Maroc, emphasized the strategic weight of this achievement for the nation’s energy future:
“This first Ship-to-Ship operation at the Port of Agadir is a major milestone for Petrostar Maroc, but more importantly, it is a significant step forward for the Moroccan maritime flag. In a market where coastal energy flows have historically been dominated by foreign fleets, successfully executing this operation between two Moroccan-flagged vessels, the MT PS OUFELLA and the MT CHALLAH, demonstrates our domestic capability to reclaim and manage our national energy logistics.”
“Our success stems directly from the technical excellence and deep sense of responsibility shown by our teams, alongside the invaluable coordination of Morocco’s port and customs authorities. This initiative perfectly mirrors the Royal Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to elevate Morocco into a premier global maritime and logistics powerhouse. This is only the beginning of our journey to expand Morocco’s bunkering capacities on the world stage. “
Petrostar Maroc in Brief
Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Agadir, Petrostar Maroc is a leading Moroccan oil and marine fuel company accredited by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development. Guided by Founder and CEO Yassine El Omari, the company operates under the motto “Energy in the literal sense” and has established itself as an integrated, multi-sector energy provider across Morocco.
The company operates across four core divisions:
- Bunkering: Standard-setter in the distribution of bonded bunker fuel and lubricants to national and foreign vessels across all Moroccan ports. It offers 24/7/365 fueling via tanker trucks, pipelines, marine stations, and now, high-stakes Ship-to-Ship (STS) operations.
- B2B Solutions: Direct fuel and energy distribution to industrial businesses, supported by a large private fleet of delivery trucks.
- Retail: A growing, nationwide network of downstream Petrostar-branded service stations catering to regular motorists.
- Lubricants: Production and marketing of premium quality engine oils, industrial fluids, and grease applications to maintain commercial productivity.
Source: Petrostar Maroc