China: Xiushandong Anchorage records over 1 million mt annual bunker volume

Xiushandong Anchorage has become the first anchorage in Zhoushan to achieve an annual bunkering volume of over one million metric tonnes (mt) in 2024, according to the Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee on Monday (30 December).

The milestone was marked after a bunkering operation of Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier “GREAT SUI”, which was refuelled with 1,500 mt of bonded fuel oil at Xiushandong Anchorage.

Data statistics show that as of December 29, the bunker fuel volume at Xiushandong Anchorage reached 1.1038 million mt, a year-on-year increase of 57.1%, accounting for 47.1% of the total bunkering at Zhoushan anchorages, a record high.

As a “rising star” among the five major refueling anchorages in Zhoushan, Xiushandong Anchorage, with its favourable geographical, meteorological and waterway conditions, has seen a rapid growth in bonded bunkering since it achieved night berthing operations last year.

Xiushandong Anchorage is an inner anchorage, which is less affected by factors such as strong winds and fog, allowing it to be in operation for about 310 days a year. This is among the reasons for its sudden popularity.

At the same time, the regulatory department of Zhoushan Port has continued to expand the capacity and increasing the efficiency of anchorages in response to the development demands of the bonded bunkering industry, and has promoted the upgrading of Xiushandong Anchorage through a series of support measures.

The measures include the maritime affairs department has promoted the establishment of two priority anchorages for bonded bunkering, thus establishing the “simultaneous” operation of materials and fuel oil on port and starboard; the customs has unified the standards for the supervision of bonded bunker fuels, online rapid approval, and the border inspection has set up a new 24-hour bonded oil service desk.

“After years of development, Xiushandong Anchorage has 25 oil supply anchorages, especially with the two new exclusive refueling anchorages added this year, which provide priority services for foreign ships to refuel in Zhoushan, greatly improving refueling efficiency, and also give us more confidence and confidence in accepting orders for oil supply,” said a spokesperson of the Ship Supply Department of Chimbusco Zhoushan.

Photo credit: Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee
Published: 2 January, 2025