From gCaptain
January 12, 2021
This Envisat image shows parts of Hebei Province, Tianjin Municipality, and Bohai Bay of the People’s Republic of China. Via Wikipedia
By Muyu Xu and Chen Aizhu (Reuters) – Chinese ports and security agencies are on high alert as the expansion of sea ice makes it more difficult for ships to dock and unload at key energy import terminals along the coast of northern Bohai Bay.
A cold spell sweeping across the northern hemisphere has brought temperatures across China to their lowest level in decades, pushing demand for electricity and fuel to historic highs for the world’s largest energy consumer.
Related book: In the Kingdom of Ice: The Great and Horrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette through Hampton Sides
“The sea ice situation is more severe this year than it was in the same period in previous years,” said Wang Jun, professor of transportation issues at Dalian Maritime University.
“It could hinder the sailing and docking of ships, no matter how big they are.”
Weather officials warned of severe frost in the region this week. The sea ice stretches for 45 to 55 nautical miles in Liaodong Bay and 10 to 20 nautical miles in Bohai Bay, close to levels that could result in temporary bans on navigation.
Last weekend, the Ship Safety Bureau in northern Hebei sent several tugs to help ships like the LNG tanker Clean Planet and the coal bulk tanker Agia Eirini Force trapped in a meter thick sea ice to help them to Caofeidian and Huanghua ports said state television.
Agia Eirini Force is leaving China on Tuesday, but Clean Planet’s newest location hasn’t been updated, Refinitiv Eikon’s shipping data showed.
The maritime authorities and ports in Tianjin, Hebei and Liaoning Province are closely monitoring weather conditions and sending drones and icebreakers to clear the fairway for expected ships.
“The duration of the overload is a little longer this week,” said Rebecca Chia, LNG analyst at Kpler. The data show that the average waiting time for LNG discharge is the highest since the beginning of winter in October.
However, operations at the Caofeidian LNG terminal, China’s largest gas plant, were normal, a company executive said.
“We’re keeping operations at full capacity, similar to the same time last year,” he said on condition of anonymity.
Sea ice is one of the top five ocean threats threatening fisheries, maritime transport and offshore power generation.
CNOOC Ltd announced Tuesday that 59 of its offshore oil and gas production platforms are in the sea ice-covered area in Liaodong Bay, but operations on the platforms will not be affected.
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