China’s Huangdao Port to Introduce Measures to Ban Shadow Fleet Vessels
Terminal operators in east China‘s Shandong province are set to introduce measures to ban shadow fleet vessels and curb visits by other old tankers at Huangdao Port. The measures, effective from November 1, aim to target vessels using fake International Maritime Organization numbers and ships that are 31 years old or older.
The notice, seen by Reuters and a tanker tracker, was issued last week by four terminal operators: Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal Co, Qingdao Shihua Crude Oil Terminal Co, Qingdao Gangxin Oil Products Co, and Qingdao Lixing Logistics Co. According to the document reviewed by Reuters, vessels holding invalid or expired certificates from various international agencies will be banned from calling, as well as those with a record of pollution or accidents in the previous three years.
Risk-Rating System Introduced
The terminal operators are also introducing a scoring system that rates vessels’ level of risk. The older the vessel, the lower the score. With a full mark at 100, vessels rated below 55 are considered high risk and will be barred from anchoring. The scoring system takes into account a ship’s classification society and pollution liability cover.
Emma Li, China analyst with tanker tracker Vortexa Analytics, noted that the new rules appear to be a precautionary step driven by environmental concerns and rising U.S. sanctions pressure. However, she added that the impact is likely to be limited because Huangdao has only a minor role in handling high-risk tankers compared with other Shandong ports.
Environmental Concerns and Sanctions Pressure
The measures are seen as a response to growing environmental concerns and increasing pressure from Western sanctions. The United States designated an oil terminal in nearby Dongjiakou port as receiving Iranian oil carried by vessels under sanctions last month. Both Huangdao and Dongjiakou are in the broader Qingdao port area, the largest Chinese entry point for Iranian oil.
China has repeatedly defended its oil transactions with Iran and opposed unilateral Western sanctions. The country is Iran’s biggest oil client, and the two nations have a long-standing energy cooperation agreement.
No Immediate Comment
Qingdao Shihua did not immediately comment on the new measures, and calls to the other three companies involved were not answered.
Original Article: China oil port set to introduce measures to ban shadow fleet — Reuters