The 22 merchant tankers listed in the current listing of activities at the Lagos Pilotage District (LPD) released by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) are collectively bearing a total of 394,055 metric tonnes of various refined petroleum products imports.
The consignments of these vessels offer hopes of steady supply in the market, particularly in ameliorating the prevailing scarcity of aviation fuel that has hit regular flight operations hard.
Of the combined 394,055 metric tonnes of refined petroleum products imports listed at the LPD, premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly called petrol, has the bulk share at 350,055 metric tonnes.
The total consignment includes 25,000 metric tonnes of dual purpose kerosene (DPK); aviation type kerosene (ATK), 10,000 metric tonnes; automotive gas oil (AGO) or diesel, 5,000 metric tonnes; and 4,000 metric tonnes of base oil.
13 of the 22 vessels are listed as being expected to arrive during the five-day period, July 22 and July 26, 2013.
While seven of the vessels are carrying 170,282 metric tonnes of PMS; five are bearing 25,000 metric tonnes of DPK; and a lone vessel, the MT Saphina, 5,000 metric tonnes of AGO.
The remaining nine out of the 22 vessels were listed as “awaiting berth” at the LPD within the nine-day period July 11 – 19, 2013.
Of the nine vessels, seven, including MT Halifax, MT Kriton, MT Mariarisia, MT Blue Garnet, MT Androussa, MT Hydroussa, and MT Argosy, respectively, are carrying 15,000 metric tonnes, 30,900 metric tonnes, 38,000 metric tonnes, 20,488 metric tonnes, 20,000 metric tonnes, 24,000 metric tonnes, and 31,385 metric tonnes of PMS, adding up to 179,773 metric tonnes of the this product.
MT Georgia has 10,000 metric tonnes of ATK cargo, while MT Ina Theresa is carrying 4,000 metric tonnes of base oil.
Of the nine vessels awaiting berth at the LPD, eight are listed as Customs Release Not Applicable (CR/NAPP), which, according to the NPA, applies to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) tankers or those vessels trading on the West African coast.
MT Ina Theresa was listed as “shifted”, indicating, according to the NPA, “ship shifted to roads and later reberthed or to road for low productivity.”
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