Asia/Pacific News
Lanka IOC Starts Bunkering Operations at Trincomalee
Lanka IOC PLC (Lanka IOC), Sri Lankan subsidiary of India's largest oil refiner Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, said in an emailed press release that it has commenced bunkering operations from its Trincomolee oil terminal.
The move is said provide additional bunkering options to the vessels operating in Bay of Bengal, with marine fuels at Trincomalee said to be priced comparative to the prices in Colombo port.
"This will also be beneficial for the ships operating on East Coast of India – West service as Trincomalee port is situated on this shipping route and ships need not to detour from their route for taking bunkers resulting in considerable saving of bunker fuel consumption and time of the vessels," said the company in the statement.
"With more than 30 meter draft available, Trincomalee Canyon provides natural shelter making this port a better place for bunkering at anchorage even during the adverse weather."
Operations are said to have officially began on June 25, 2015, with the company having delivered a total of 1200 mt of bunkers to various vessels crossing Trincomalee within a week.
Lanka IOC says it has positioned one bunker barge with a capacity for 400mt 380cst fuel oil and 400mt MGO at Trincomalee for delivering marine fuel bunkers to the ships at berth and anchorage.
On Tuesday, it was reported that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has announced a $400 million investment for the Hambantota Port to construct a repair centre and renew bunkering services in the "near future,"
