Bunker calls dropped amid waiting times at Zona Comun

A refinery fire in La Plata has curtailed bunker deliveries from a major supplier, tightening availability at the anchorage.

IMAGE: Zona Comun anchorage. Antares Ship Agents.

Some buyers have cancelled bunker calls at Zona Comun amid extended wait times due to a shortage of available suppliers.

"Ops staff tell me there have been two or three cases where owners have chosen to cancel bunker calls at Zona Comun because of the excessive waiting times," a local communications executive told ENGINE.

The delays stem from a slowdown in bunker deliveries over several days last week, following a fire at a major supplier’s refinery in La Plata that curtailed heavy fuel production.

Most of the refinery’s output typically goes into bunker fuel and is supplied to Zona Comun via the bunker tanker Straits Sky.

Following the incident, the supplier has halted deliveries throughout the past week, reducing the number of readily available suppliers at the anchorage and leading to the supply shortfall.

Weather conditions at the anchorage currently remain favourable for bunkering, with winds at 4–11 knots and calm seas.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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