Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Mar 22: In a significant development amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, a cargo vessel carrying Russian 'Urals' crude oil arrived at the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) for the first time since the start of the conflict.

The vessel, named ‘Aqua Titan’, was originally en route from Primorsk, Russia, to Rizhao Port in China. However, due to changing geopolitical circumstances, it diverted its course to Mangaluru. The ship reached the Single Point Mooring (SPM), a floating jetty located in the outer sea of the New Mangalore Port, on March 21 night.

MRPL to process 96,000 tonnes of crude

The SPM facility is equipped to offload crude oil from massive tankers. The ‘Aqua Titan’ is carrying approximately 96,000 metric tonnes of Russian Urals crude oil, which is expected to be processed by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL).

With the supply of LPG, LNG, and crude oil remaining sensitive due to the prevailing war conditions, the arrival of this vessel is expected to slightly improve the supply situation in the region.

More tankers expected by month-end

Sources indicate that two to three more oil tankers are expected to arrive at the NMPA by the end of this month. Two vessels carrying 1.36 lac tonnes and 2.6 lac tonnes of crude oil respectively have already departed from Yanbu Port in the Red Sea toward Mangaluru.

MRPL has an annual refining capacity of 18.2 million tonnes and requires approximately 1.5 million tonnes of crude oil per month. So far in March, the NMPA has handled two crude oil tankers at the Single Point Mooring and three at the main port.