JUST LIKE COMING HOME
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FRANK WEBER GMBH
Frank Weber GmbH has owned Borkum Bunker Station for more than 25 years. A family-run business that offers a uniquely friendly and helpful attitude to all its customers, the bunker station is renowned with all who refuel there. Managing Director Frank Weber, Bunker Service Manager Petra Schnell, and Ilona Weber (who organises vessels and services) discussed the bunker station’s success and the different ways that they ensure customer satisfaction each and every day. Report by Imogen Ward.
Borkum Bunker Station is the epitome of hard-work and positivity. With a delightful team of enthusiastic individuals, the bunker station runs off the passion of these workers. They always go above and beyond to ensure the very best service for those refuelling at Borkum Island.
“You must love what you do,” Frank Weber said, “that is very important; if you make a business only about money, then it won’t be as strong as if you make it with heart. Borkum Bunker Station is our baby. When we first started, we worked 24/7 to ensure it would thrive. It’s much bigger now, but it’s still our baby. I think that essence really shines through to our customers.”
The welcoming atmosphere at Borkum Bunker is renowned throughout the shipping industry. The names Frank, Ilona, Petra and Bogdan pass from vessel to vessel, known as warm and friendly individuals who go the extra mile to help their customers.
Found in the idyllic setting of Borkum Island off the North Sea coast of north-western Germany, the bunker is located on the south pier of Borkum harbour. This family-run business is a hub of activity 365 days a year and has been since Frank Weber bought the company from his uncle 26 years ago.
Trucking to it
With three trucks in-house (two 40 ton and one 16 ton), Borkum Bunker ensures swift delivery of fuel to its customers, as well as to the surrounding Island of Borkum. “We use our small truck for the island,” Bunker Service Manager Petra Schnell said, “to fill up our diesel filling station, and also as support for our larger trucks. When there is a large amount of fuel to transport, our 16-ton truck can cover the excess.”
The island has a regulation of 12 tons; therefore, the company utilises its smaller tanker for transportation of fuel around the island. This ensures that the bunker station can aid those residing on the island too, including anyone who moors near the beach.
As part of its promise of first-class service, Borkum Bunker has maintained a strong relationship with one fuel supplier. This decision ensures that the bunker station knows the durability of its goods. “We rely on a sole supplier for our fuel,” Mr Weber said. “If we have a problem, we know exactly where that stems from, whereas, if we had a whole slew of suppliers, it would make it much more difficult to locate the source of the issue.”
As a result, Borkum Bunker knows its vehicles are reliable and, hence, successfully minimises any risk of delivery delays that could negatively impact customers.
The bunker station’s latest investment in automatic overnight fuelling (11pm-6am), will also provide its commercial customers the highest quality of fuel 24 hours a day. This addition will be available to customers in 2023 and gives customers the option of self-service filling.
Perfect partnerships
Over the past years alone, Borkum Bunker has supplied 200 different CTVs. “The number of vessels we see each month is really different,” Ms Schnell said, “it can range from 1 to 30 depending on the time of year.”
“Now, because of the wind farms nearby,” Ms Weber added, “it is normal for us to have a variety. Currently, we have ten because it is winter. Whereas, during 2020, with Covid, we saw 32 vessels refuelled daily in one month. Summer is always busier than winter too, because the contracts start around April / May and go through to October.”
To ensure that everyone arriving at Borkum Bunker gets the very best service, the bunker station works in partnership with Maritime Offshore Solutions (MOS) who offers repair services for ships refuelling at nearby Borkum. MOS has divers to perform underwater inspections and repairs, and engineers to fix any electrical faults relating to the onboard systems (including ship automation, navigation and hydraulics).
With an added touch of luxury, there is also a choice of accommodation on the island. The Borkum Hafen Immobilien offers all those who work in the offshore sector – technicians and crews –the opportunity to get a good night’s rest away from their vessel.
Going that extra mile
Borkum Bunker is extremely flexible when it comes to customers’ needs. The bunker station serves commercial and private boats, and also has an additional diesel filling station for trucks and cars. The company works in partnership with EPAS in Emden to ensure food, and any other provisions needed, arrive on time for the vessels.
On top of this service, Borkum Bunker goes above and beyond to make sure the crews onboard are being looked after too, “When the crews need food or other stuff,” Ms Schnell said, “we pick it up for them and bring it to the vessels. When they need something they cannot buy on the island, the crew have it delivered to our office, and we bring it to the vessel as soon as possible.
“Even the technicians on the windfarms, they order their parcels to us, we give it to the CTVs and then the CTVs bring it down to them. We have created a very good network here.”
This reinforces the company’s customer-first attitude – going the extra mile and maintaining an honest reputation.
The staff at Borkum Bunker always look forward to seeing their regulars arrive. With a familial atmosphere engulfing the bunker station, this extends to all new customers too. Frank, Ilona, Petra and Bogdan are always happy to meet new people and assist them.
“It is a great feeling for us to be able to say we are close to our customers,” Ms Weber concluded. “It’s so important to love what you do; it reinforces the success of a business. We are family here and that sense is reflected in our customers; every single person is important to us and we are always happy when we meet again; they say it’s just like coming home.” n
