Fuel-carrying vessels continue to arrive at Chattogram port, one after another despite ongoing volatility in the global energy market. Over the past two weeks, a total of 23 large ships carrying oil and gas have reached the country’s main seaport. 18 vessels have already completed unloading and departed. Currently, five more ships have entered Bangladesh’s maritime boundary, while another four are on their way to the port.
According to port sources, these vessels carried various types of fuel including LNG, LPG and diesel between March 3 and March 17. Most of the ships have completed unloading, while operations for the remaining ones are ongoing. Fuel unloading and supply activities at the port remain normal.
To further accelerate fuel supply, five more vessels are arriving at the port. Among them, the vessel ‘Chang Hang Hong Tu’ arrived on March 15 from Malaysia carrying gas oil and has already discharged around 5,000 metric tons of cargo. Meanwhile, the vessels ‘Prachi’, ‘Lady of Doria’, and ‘SC Gold Ocean’ are currently at the port, with their unloading operations expected to be completed by March 22.
On the other hand, the vessel ‘LPG Seven’ arrived on March 8 from Oman carrying LPG and is currently stationed near Kutubdia. About 7,020 metric tons of LPG have already been unloaded, and the vessel’s full operation is expected to be completed by March 20.
Following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East on February 28, vessel movement through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz was nearly disrupted. This route handles around 20 percent of the world’s fuel transportation.
However, since most vessels had crossed the strait before the escalation, fuel supply at Chattogram Port has not faced major disruption. This vessels have also arrived from Singapore, India and Malaysia.
Chattogram Port Authority's data shows that from February 18 to Tuesday, a total of 27 fuel-laden vessels entered the port’s maritime zone. 18 have already completed unloading and left, while operations for the rest are ongoing in phases.
Meanwhile, four more fuel-carrying vessels are expected to arrive at the port by March 23. These ships will come from Angola, Oman, Malaysia, and Thailand. Among them, two will carry LPG, one LNG, and another base oil.
Port records indicate that among the 27 vessels from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Malaysia, Oman, and India have supplied LNG, LPG, crude oil, gas oil, HSFO, and base oil.
In addition, four vessels are currently in “passage,” meaning they are on their way to the port. These ships—from Malaysia, Angola, Thailand, and Oman are carrying LNG, HSFO, LPG, and base oil.
Syed Refayet Hamim, Secretary of the Chattogram Port Authority, said that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure uninterrupted fuel unloading and supply. He expressed hope that the arrival of new vessels will keep the country’s fuel supply situation stable.
