Americas News
Hurricane Hermine Limits Bunkering at U.S. East Coast Ports
Hurricane Hermine limited bunker market activity this week, halting port operations, either fully or partially, at a number of U.S. East Coast ports.
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is understood to have closed the port of Savannah, Georgia on Thursday before closing the port of Charleston, South Carolina and limiting maritime activities in the port of Wilmington, North Carolina on Friday.
"We've got one ship delayed in Charleston waiting to bunker, but at least they're already in port," said a source from Colonial Fuel & Lubricant Services, Inc. (Colonial Fuel), a local bunker fuel supplier.
"But we've got four, possibly five ships, outside Savannah waiting to come in for fuel. Right now, they're anchored offshore."
Wilmington is said to have been placed under condition X-Ray, a designation that states that lightering, bunkering, and cargo operations must cease as soon as winds reach a sustained 40 mph.
However, it was expected that USCG "may not have to close Wilmington" as the storm had appeared to be weakening by Friday.
