1 lakh tonnes of crude oil from Saudi likely to arrive on 5 or 6 May
Meanwhile, another crude-carrying vessel, Nordic Pollux, is still stuck in the Strait of Hormuz with 1 lakh tonnes of crude oil.
With government facilitation, an oil tanker carrying 1 lakh tonnes of crude oil from Saudi Arabia is set to arrive at Chattogram Port on 5 or 6 May.
The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), the state-run agency responsible for transporting crude oil said that a Chinese-flagged vessel, MT Ninemia, carrying 1 lakh tonnes of crude oil, departed from Yanbu Port in Saudi Arabia for Chattogram this morning (21 April).
BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek told The Business Standard that the vessel is expected to arrive at Chattogram port's outer anchorage on 5 or 6 May.
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He said the vessel began loading crude oil yesterday (20 April) and completed loading 1 lakh tonnes in about 18 hours.
He added that it takes around 12 days to reach Chattogram via the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.
"We expect the vessel to arrive at Chattogram's outer anchorage on 5 or 6 May," he said.
The crude will then be lightered and transported to the Eastern Refinery in Patenga.
He further said that crude oil is usually loaded from a Saudi port that requires vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz to exit.
Due to the ongoing war, the strait has been affected, preventing crude shipments despite loading. As a result, crude oil is being transported via an alternative port.
Meanwhile, another crude-carrying vessel, Nordic Pollux, is still stuck in the Strait of Hormuz with 1 lakh tonnes of crude oil.
Although it is currently stationed at Ras Tanura port in Saudi Arabia, it has not been able to proceed to Bangladesh due to the lack of clearance from Iran.
