Spotbarge analyses bunkering activity based on AIS data and other sources. Image Credit: Spotbarge

• Bunker deliveries to several vessel segments declined during July and August as weather disruptions affected Zhoushan operations.
• Oil tanker deliveries fell 34%, the largest decline among the vessel segments tracked.
• Around 200 bunker operations were lost in August, affecting roughly 200,000-250,000 mt of deliveries.

Around 200 bunker operations were lost in China’s Zhoushan region in August due to several bouts of severe weather disruptions, impacting roughly 200,000-250,000 mt of bunker deliveries.

The disruptions significantly affected bunkering activity in the region, Sebastiaan Kosman, the founder of analytics firm Spotbarge, told Ship & Bunker on Tuesday.

SpotBarge, which tracks bunkering activity using AIS data and other sources, recorded a 34% decline in bunker deliveries to oil tankers during July-August, the largest drop among the vessel segments tracked.

Deliveries also fell by 32% for bulk carriers, 25% for container ships, 20% for crude tankers and 20% for cargo ships.

Bunkering at Zhoushan’s outer and inner anchorages was suspended from the morning of July 7 due to adverse weather brought by Super Typhoon Bavi, which tracked towards Taiwan and China’s eastern coast.

Operations were disrupted again in August after Typhoon Hagupit made landfall on August 4.

Bunkering at Zhoushan’s outer anchorages, including Tiaozhoumen and Xiazhimen, was affected by the weather.

Around August 27, a separate weather event led to further disruption.

Bunkering at the more sheltered Xiushandong and inner Mazhi anchorages was suspended due to rough weather associated with four successive tropical systems - Saudel, Narra, Gaenari and Atsani.