Blast Hampers Tanker Operations at India’s Kandla Port

An explosion has been reported at an oil jetty in India’s Kandla Port which shut down tanker operations over the weekend.

The blast and heavy fire occurred on Saturday night, September 23 at the pipeline junction leading to the liquid cargo storage terminal belonging to the Friends Salt Works & Allied Industries (FSWAI). One worker carrying out maintenance works was killed in the blast and three more were seriously injured.

The subcontractor workers were said to be changing valves at the Oil Jetty 3 FSWAI junction at the time of the explosion.

Following the incident, the port authority suspended all discharge and loading operations at the terminal until further notice.

Firefighters were rushed to the scene and doused the fire on early 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