CPC halts new bunker nominations at Keelung amid barge constraints

State-owned bunker supplier CPC Corporation has temporarily stopped accepting new VLSFO and LSMGO nominations for deliveries at Taiwan's Keelung port after one of its bunker barges developed a serious technical fault, while the other is already in dry dock, a source said.

IMAGE: Keelung city's skyline and port at dusk. Getty Images

One bunker barge has been out of service since last Thursday because of a technical fault. The second barge is expected to remain in dry dock until March next year.

The technical issue is expected to be resolved within the next 2–3 days. In the meantime, recommended lead times for both VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries in Keelung have increased to 4–5 days from around three days previously, the source added.

Meanwhile, bunkering operations at Kaohsiung resumed over the weekend after being suspended since 20 July due to barge scheduling issues. Port congestion has since eased.

Recommended lead times for both VLSFO and LSMGO are around two days in Hualien and Taichung, while deliveries in Kaohsiung require lead times of about three days.

By Tuhin Roy

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