Vessel with 34,000 tonnes diesel from Malaysia arrive at Chattogram

A vessel named Shan Gang Fa Xian has arrived at Chattogram Port carrying around 34,000 tonnes of diesel imported from Malaysia.

Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim confirmed the development on Saturday morning, saying the ship reached the Kutubdia Channel at the port’s outer anchorage on Friday night.

The vessel left Malaysia on March 29. Its local agent, Pride Shipping Lines, said the ship is carrying slightly more than 34,000 tonnes of diesel. Of this, around 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes will need to be offloaded at the outer anchorage through a lightening process, which may require at least two operations. If all procedures proceed smoothly, the vessel is expected to berth at the Dolphin Jetty in Patenga on Sunday.

Meanwhile, another tanker, Yan Jing He, has arrived from Singapore with 27,300 tonnes of diesel and is currently discharging fuel at Padma Oil’s Dolphin Jetty-6. The vessel is scheduled to depart on Sunday.

Officials said oil and gas-carrying vessels are being given priority at the port to help ease the ongoing fuel supply pressure. Sources at Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) said this is the tenth diesel-laden ship to arrive at Chattogram Port since the onset of the Middle East conflict.

To maintain a stable fuel supply, BPC has been increasing imports from alternative sources beyond the Middle East, alongside existing pipeline supplies.