The first tanker has started loading oil at Turkey’s Ceyhan export hub after Monday’s devastating earthquakes.
The 110,000-dwt Vallesina (built 2009) has berthed at the Botas Ceyhan terminal, confirmed Italian operator Montanari Navigazione.
“Everything is going on regularly,” said the company’s operations department.
It said there had been no delay in operations following the quakes that left more than 9,000 dead in Turkey and southern Syria.
The Vallesina had previously carried three shipments of Iraqi crude piped to the terminal in 2023.
State pipeline operator Botas had temporarily halted flows to the facility as a precaution on Monday, according to reports.
But safety checks revealed no damage and crude flows from Iraq have resumed to the terminal. Operations from a separate jetty that handles Azerbaijan crude remained closed on Wednesday, according to GAC Hot Port News.
“All operations remain suspended until further notice due to damage report studies and emergency meeting,” said the shipping services specialist.
The pipelines carry about 1m barrels a day of Iraqi and Azerbaijani crude to the terminal for export.
The terminal accounts for 2.4% of total global seaborne crude oil exports, said Ralph Leszczynski, head of research for Banchero Costa.
Just under two-thirds are loaded onto aframaxes with the rest going to suezmaxes. He said about 70% of volumes went to Europe.
