The future of Eden as a supply port to the expanding Bass Strait oil fields is looking bright with regular oil transfer and logistic operations likely in the future.
According to local logistics company Svitzer, oil industry companies were very happy with the amenities and support of the port of Eden.
Svitzer's Eden manager Steve Heffernan said due to worldwide shortage of oil, production in Bass Strait was set to increase potentially meaning more work for Eden in the form of providing accommodation for crew transfers and general supplies to restock the ships as well as other logistical needs.
The regularly scheduled oil transfers that are an important boost for the local economy are also set to proceed with offshore tankers arriving from the Bass Strait oil fields regularly.
Anzon Australia, operator of the project on the Basker Manta Gummy oil field has been granted approval from a variety of maritime services to conduct ongoing ship to ship transfers at Eden.
This development is approximately ESE of Bairnsdale in water depths that range from 130m to 265m.
Mr Heffernan said through his company and his position on the Eden Chamber of Commerce he continued to lobby the offshore oil industry companies to use the port of Eden as a supply and logistics base.
"The offshore oil industry is an important boost to the town's economy and we can't always rely on tourism and we don't want to see empty shops on the main street," Mr Heffernan said.
There was a small hitch on the weekend when one logistic operation had to be cancelled.
The transfer of massive oil industry pipe from one ship to another ship out in Twofold Bay proved too difficult on Saturday and had to abandoned.
The heavy lift operation involving the transfer of five 230-tonne umbilical reels holding the pipe had to be abandoned due to the swell conditions with the sensitive operation requiring calm water.
Mr Heffernan said it was unfortunate that the weekend's transfer of the offshore reels between the heavy lift vessel The Atlant Frauke and offshore installation support vessel (OISV) Rem Etive had to be abandoned but that the operation required perfectly calm conditions.
"Unfortunately the operations ceased after a number of attempts on Saturday," he said.
"But in general everyone was pleased with the accommodation, transport and other logistical needs supplied by Eden."
Some preliminary work was conducted preparing the ships at the Navy wharf.
The transfer of the five reels of umbilical pipe would now take place in the port of Melbourne in calm waters.
Mr Heffernan said the plan was for the reels to be transferred to the Rem Etive and then to be transported out to the Basker Manta field.
Located out at the field is a floating production storage and offloading vessel, also known as a FPSO, named Crystal Ocean that is located over a well producing crude oil.
Production was proceeding well and the massive floating ship, which essentially was a mini ocean oilrig, was bringing up significant quantities of oil that was being stored on board.
When sufficient quantities were in its holds, an offloading tanker arrives to take on the oil then sailing back to just outside Twofold Bay where it was then transferred again to export tankers bound for oil refineries where the oil was turned into petrol and other petroleum products.
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