Blast Hampers Tanker Operations at Indias Kandla Port

zoomIllustration; Image Courtesy: Youtube Screenshot An explosion has been reported at an oil jetty in Indias Kandla Port which shut down tanker operations over the weekend. A fire broke out on Saturday night, September 23 in one of the storage tanks near the Oil jetty 03 at Friends Salt Works & Allied Industries (FSWAI) terminal. One person was killed in the blast and another injured, according to the Indian Express. Firefighters were rushed to the scene and doused the fire on Sunday morning. As a result, tanker operations at most of Kandla Port’s oil jetties resumed on September 24. The port’s Fire & Safety Department has given necessary clearances for KESAR, VOPAK, IMC, JRE and all other terminals except for the affected FSWAI terminal. Discharging operations at oil jetties have re-commenced with cargoes nominated for FSWAI terminal being diverted to other working terminals, GAC informed. Normal operations are expected to be reinstated once the terminal is fully back in operation. Cargo discharge acceptance at the FSWAI Terminal will be hampered until the lines are repaired and fully re-commissioned. There are total 14 drop lines at FSWAI junction and, due to the explosion, these lines have become totally unusable and will be non-operational for the next month, as per the initial updates received, GAC added. Due to the disruption in operations berthing delays are expected to be twice as long, lasting at least for four days for arriving vessels. World Maritime News Staff