Malta bunkering infrastructure suffers damage from Storm Harry

Malta and several other Mediterranean bunker locations are grappling with rough weather and bunker disruptions.

IMAGE: Tankers during a bunker operation off Malta. Getty Images

Storm Harry has caused damages to Evos' bunkering facility in Malta, which is expected to affect bunker availability until required maintenance is carried out, shipping agent WMR said.

Four berths, from where barges load fuel, have been damaged and there is no clarity yet on when the maintenance work will be completed, the agent added.

Fuel supplies are happening from smaller depots, while one supplier can provide ship-to-ship LSMGO deliveries from a tanker, a trader said.

Consequently, bunker supplies off Malta are tight, and suppliers are providing an earliest delivery date of around 4 February, the trader said.

Unsuitable weather conditions are forecast to persist off Malta until the first week of February. Deliveries are currently carried out in Bunkering Area 1, port agent MH Bland said.

ENGINE reached out to Evos Malta for a comment, but had not received a response at the time of publication.

Other Mediterranean locations also face bunkering disruptions

Inbound vessel traffic to the anchorage remains suspended in Gibraltar, while port operations and bunkering is also suspended in the ports of Algeciras and Ceuta, port agent MH Bland said.

Bunkering queues are increasing in Gibraltar due to the disruption, with around 26 vessels currently awaiting bunkers, the port agent MH Bland added.

Algeciras has also seen some congestion, and some suppliers are not accepting more vessels due to the port closure, a source said.

The backlogs are expected to cause bunkering delays and buyers are recommended lead times of around 8-10 days, a trader said.

Swells of above 2 metres are forecast in Las Palmas until 7 February. Supplies are currently being carried out only at the inner anchorage and at berth, but delays are expected because of a lack of space in these areas, port agent MH Bland said.

Bunker operations in the Spanish port of Huelva have also been suspended, the port agent added.

Adverse weather is restricting calls by vessels above 30,000 gross tonnes in Lisbon, with pilotage via Cascais unlikely to resume before 5 February, a supplier said. Bunker availability remains normal for smaller vessels, with 3-5 days of lead time advised.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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