Karachi’s anchorage will reopen to bunker-only calls from mid-September, according to physical supplier Orion Bunkers DMCC, which spoke to Ship & Bunker about the seasonal change.
Monsoon Season Comes to a Close
Zishan Arshad, director at Orion Bunkers DMCC, told Ship & Bunker that “Karachi anchorage opens mid-September for bunker-only calls, as the monsoon is over.” Arshad added that “buyers must appoint a local agent, and we will be ready to supply HSFO, VLSFO, and LSMGO.”
The reopening restores an anchorage option for vessels seeking to call at Karachi purely to take on fuel, running alongside Orion’s existing in-port supply operations at Karachi and Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, as reported by Ship & Bunker.
Full Product Slate Follows HSFO Resumption
According to Ship & Bunker, the availability of all three grades follows Orion’s recent resumption of HSFO deliveries in Pakistan. That resumption has been driven by demand from scrubber-fitted vessels trading routes connecting the Middle East, India, and the Far East.
Orion Bunkers DMCC has operated as a physical bunker supplier in Pakistan since 2004 and runs a fleet of four company-owned barges, Ship & Bunker reports. Earlier this year, the company completed what it described as Pakistan’s largest single LSMGO delivery, supplying 1,000 mt to a dredger at Karachi, according to the same report.
Does This Matter to You?
The reopening of Karachi’s anchorage for bunker-only calls could be relevant for vessel operators and charterers planning routes through the region, particularly those transiting between the Middle East, India, and the Far East. With HSFO, VLSFO, and LSMGO all confirmed as available, scrubber-fitted vessels and conventionally fuelled ships alike may find added flexibility in fuel procurement along this corridor.
Bunker traders and buyers considering Karachi should note the requirement to appoint a local agent to arrange stems at the anchorage, a procedural detail confirmed directly by Orion Bunkers DMCC. Port planners and logistics coordinators tracking regional bunkering capacity may also find this development relevant given the anchorage’s seasonal closure during monsoon periods and its now-confirmed reopening timeline.
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
