The Rix maritime tradition dates back almost 200 years to when sea captain and merchant adventurer, Robert Rix, traded out of the port of Hull. Nowadays, Rix Shipping has a fleet of dry cargo vessels, four coastal tankers, and three estuarial barges. The J.R. Rix & Sons Group is now a fifth generation family-controlled business.

Nikki Jessop, director of Maritime Bunkering, told Fuel Oil News that the M.T. Lerrix would be totally fitted out within a few weeks of the ceremony, and would then begin its bunkering duties along the east coast of Britain, serving both long-established traders and ship owners. The Lerrix will carry up to 500 tonnes of fuel oil plus 600 tonnes of gas oil. The ship is so advanced it can blend fuel to a customer’s specific requirements, and then heat it to facilitate efficient pumping.

She said: “The Lerrix will pick up marine fuel from various locations including Associated Petroleum Terminals in Immingham, bunkering on the Humber and or other east coast ports to wherever it is required. It can fuel several ships from one load, or, in the case of a really big vessel, just service one customer and then return. The addition of the Lerrix brings our total fleet to eight ships of various different sizes.” www.rix.co.uk