A Correspondent:
Chattogram: A Chinese-flagged tanker, Shing Tong 799, carrying more than 34,667 tonnes of Jet A-1 fuel has arrived at the Chattogram port outer anchorage, easing concerns over aviation fuel supply.
The vessel, measuring 182.5 meters in length, reached the anchorage around 4 pm on Friday. Unloading operations are currently underway through lightering at the outer anchorage before the ship is brought to the jetty, as its draft is not suitable for direct berthing.
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Chairman Md. Rezanur Rahman confirmed the arrival of the vessel, noting that the shipment, equivalent to roughly 14 days of national demand at 2,500 tonnes per day, will help ensure stable supply.
Earlier on April 14, another tanker, MT Great Princess, arrived from Singapore with 11,000 tonnes of Jet A-1 fuel.
Officials said multiple fuel tankers are currently handling diesel and octane deliveries at the port. Two large diesel-carrying vessels are also being unloaded at Dolphin Jetty, while additional ships remain at anchorage due to limited berthing capacity.
According to local shipping agent Pride Shipping Lines Managing Director Nazrul Islam, lightering op-erations began immediately after the arrival of Shing Tong 799. The vessel is expected to be moved to the jetty within the next few days after partial unloading reduces its draft.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani-flagged tanker MT Quetta arrived on Thursday with 33,400 tonnes of diesel from Taiwan, followed by the Panama-flagged Prive Angel, which brought in 35,055 tonnes of diesel from Dubai on Friday morning.
At present, four vessels are waiting at outer anchorage, unable to berth at Dolphin Jetty due to their size constraints. Lightering is being carried out at the Kutubdia anchorage using smaller mother vessels.
Officials said only two jetties are currently operational for large vessels, limiting immediate berthing capacity. However, efforts are underway to speed up unloading operations and improve turnaround time.
According to BPC sources, several vessels carrying refined diesel and octane are now stationed both at jetty and outer anchorage, with priority being given to diesel and octane discharge.
Separately, a crude oil tanker that departed Yanbu port on April 21 at 3 am Saudi time (6 am Bangla-desh time) is en route to Eastern Refinery PLC, carrying 100,000 tonnes of crude oil. The vessel’s route reportedly avoids the Strait of Hormuz.
