Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), is advising that oil tankers are remaining at anchorage having been evacuated from Qingdao Port, China. Currently only the oil terminals are affected, with the exception of Dagang terminal, located at east Jiaozhou Bay. Many tankers have received changed discharge instructions from domestic receivers.
Other bulk, general cargo and container terminals are operating normally. Sea contamination has extended to around three square kilometres and the oil from the explosion has leaked into Jiaozhou Bay. It is unknown at present when the oil terminal will re-open.
The explosion occurred near the southern gate of the Lidong Chemical Plant in the city’s Huangdao district following a leak in the pipeline operated by Sinopec, China’s largest oil refinery.
ISS can advise on suitable alternative ports and provide latest information on restrictions in place via its World of Ports service: www.iss-worldofports.com. ISS can also arrange access for journalists to the latest ISS World of Ports information at Qingdao Port by contacting becky.charman@talapr.co.uk or by contacting piers.yea@iss-shipping.com
The company recommends that shipowners and managers speak with its local office in Qingdao for the latest information. Phone: +86 532 8202 3336 or +86 532 8202 2713 and email: iss.qingdao@iss-shipping.com
Inchcape Shipping Services is the world’s leading maritime services provider. With over 300 proprietary offices in 66 countries, and a workforce of over 3, 800, the company’s diverse global customer base now includes owners and charterers in the oil, cruise, container and bulk commodity sectors as well as naval, government and inter-governmental organisations.
ISS provides landside commercial and humanitarian logistics, transit, offshore support, informational and other associated marine services. The company also provides a growing range of outsourcing services including global crew and marine spares logistics; port hub agency management; and sophisticated Enterprise Resource Planning solutions through its subsidiary ShipNet.
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