Oil imports at Dalian choked but box traffic back to normal

Oil imports were still blocked at the major Chinese port of Dalian on Tuesday following a fire and oil slick, while authorities recruited an additional 500 fishing boats to help with the clean-up, reported Reuters.

But container operations had returned to normal, and shipping lanes were open after temporary restrictions, reported Xinhua.

Refinery operations have been disrupted and cargo diverted since a pipeline explosion and fire hit the Xingang port, home to a 19 million barrel strategic petroleum reserve, during a tanker offloading last Friday, spilling 1,500 tonnes of crude into the sea to leave a slick covering 183 sq km.

Port operator Dalian Port said in a statement that except for the crude oil terminal, all terminals at Xingang and the adjacent Dayaowan area had resumed operations.

"While ground operations at the group's crude oil terminal have been resumed, the group will take active measures to resume the vessel loading and unloading operations in the near future," the statement said.

"The handling and storage capacity of the group for refined oil and liquefied chemicals has not been affected by the accident, while part of its handling and storage operations for crude oil has been temporarily affected."
(Source:www.cargonewsasia.com)