Typhoon Champi halts bunkering at Zhoushan outer anchorages

Bunker work at Zhoushan's two outer anchorages, Tiaozhoumen and Xiazhimen, was stopped on Tuesday because of bad weather from Typhoon Champi, ENGINE reports, citing a source. Operations carry on at the more protected Xiushandong anchorage and at the inner Mazhi anchorage.

Champi has grown into a super typhoon east of Luzon. Forecasters in Hong Kong and Taiwan expect it to pass east of Taiwan on Friday and reach the East China Sea on Saturday. By Sunday it is forecast to swing northeast and track past Zhoushan to the east, by then weakened to winds of around 90 km/h. The source says Zhoushan bunkering could be hit for several days, with the impact tied to the storm's path.

The weather hits a port that was already tight. Suppliers at Zhoushan are advising lead times of about 11 days for VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO, and prices for all three grades rose there over the weekend.

For buyers with a Zhoushan call this week or next:

• Confirm the stem early and ask which anchorage the delivery is planned for.
• Build in slack in case the storm track shifts and outer anchorage work stays paused longer.
• Keep an alternative port in mind if the schedule cannot absorb a delay.