Tankers Idle off Ceyhan amid Closure of Kirkuk Pipeline

zoomIllustration Several tankers are waiting offshore port of Ceyhan in Southern Turkey amid closure of Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Reuters reported sources as saying. Pumping of oil along Iraqi Kurdistans pipeline has been suspended since Monday as repairs were required at one section of the pipeline, which was damaged in a theft incident. Turkeys state pipeline operator Botas told Reuters that there has been a growing number of thefts in Turkey resulting in ever more frequent shutdowns of the pipeline and subsequent delivery delays. It is expected that the pipeline would open tomorrow, according to Botas. Crude flow to Ceyhan has recently averaged around 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) and at times rose as high as 500,000 bpd, according to data cited by Reuters. World Maritime News Staff; Image: Botas