James Fisher Opens Uruguay Base with First Successful Ship-to-Ship Crude Oil Transfer

4 November 2025

WP Halle deploying Fendercare fenders during STS operation, La Paloma, August 2025. (Image credit: James Fisher)

James Fisher and Sons plc (James Fisher), a global provider of specialist marine and shipping solutions trusted for safety and innovation at sea, has established a new operational base in Uruguay. A key growth region for the business, the new base expands James Fisher’s ship-to-ship (STS) services in South America to provide a strategic hub for clients requiring rapid mobilization and support across South America’s energy trade routes.

The base was inaugurated with a successful offshore operation, safely transferring one million barrels of crude oil between two tankers. The operation mobilized James Fisher’s specialist equipment, fenders, and hoses, along with its dedicated STS team, deployed via the support craft WP Halle.

Working in partnership with MEINA Offshore Services, part of the WP Group, James Fisher’s regional operating partner, providing logistics, agency, and yard services, the team successfully and safely managed the complex offshore transfer.

Krystyna Tsochlas, Head of Maritime Transport at James Fisher and Sons plc, said: “Opening our base in Uruguay demonstrates our strategic commitment to the region and strengthens our role in connecting global supply chains, supporting the future of cleaner energy trade.

“Achieving our first ship-to-ship operation demonstrates our ability to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable operations for global energy clients.”

The La Paloma base forms part of James Fisher’s strategy to expand its network of STS hubs in targeted locations worldwide, ensuring consistent safety, operational excellence, and sustainable practices across key global shipping routes.