Barge-based bunker fuel deliveries at the outer anchorages of two major Pakistani ports have been suspended due to seasonal monsoon conditions, according to Ship & Bunker.
According to Ship & Bunker, local physical marine fuel supplier Ocean Straight Run Fuel Supply Services (OSRFSS) confirmed in an email on Monday that deliveries at the outer anchorages of Port Karachi and Port Bin Qasim will not resume until September 15, or possibly later depending on how long the monsoon season lasts.
Rough Seas Disrupt Barge Operations
OSRFSS, which operates its own barges and supplies very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and marine gasoil (MGO) to vessels calling at the two ports, cited rough sea conditions as the reason for the suspension, Ship & Bunker reports. The monsoon season, which affects Pakistan’s coastal waters, has made outer anchorage deliveries by barge unworkable during this period.
Despite the disruption, the supplier told Ship & Bunker that it intends to continue supporting customer bunker requirements wherever deliveries remain feasible during the suspension period.
Company Background
According to Ship & Bunker, OSRFSS delivers VLSFO and low sulphur marine gasoil (LSMGO) at Pakistani ports via self-propelled barges. The company also supplies fuel by truck in several United Arab Emirates locations, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jebel Ali, and Sharjah.
Does This Matter to You?
Vessels calling at Port Karachi or Port Bin Qasim and relying on outer anchorage barge deliveries for VLSFO or MGO may need to adjust bunkering plans through mid-September, or longer if monsoon conditions persist, based on OSRFSS’s guidance reported by Ship & Bunker. Charterers and operators with port calls scheduled in this window may want to confirm fuel supply arrangements in advance, as barge-based deliveries at these outer anchorages are currently unavailable.
The source material does not specify whether alternative delivery methods, such as inner anchorage or berth-side bunkering, remain available at these ports during the suspension. Readers seeking operational alternatives should confirm directly with local suppliers or port authorities.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
