Asia/Pacific News
New Vessel Expands Bunkering Options at Cochin
India's Cochin Port is gaining a new bunker vessel with a capacity of 1,100 tonnes to fuel ships at night and during monsoon season, when the existing barges have difficulty operating, the newspaper Deccan Chronicle reports.
The ship, Shree Krishna XV, will carry fuel to foreign and domestic vessels travelling by the Cochin shore.
Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum, and Bharat Petroleum will provide fuel for ships at the port.
Cochin is geographically close to the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Indian media speculated the new vessel could help competition with the rival port and increase its revenues.
Cochin is also building a dedicated international bunkering terminal in an effort to attract more ships from the international maritime route, and it is simplifying bunkering procedures by allowing for clearance around the clock and providing a single-window system.
