Vessel with 61,000 tonnes LNG denied berth on compliance issue 

Petrobangla has rejected a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier carrying a Saudi Aramco cargo for failing to meet safety and compliance standards, and the supplier will replace the shipment.

The Liberia-flagged Alhamra arrived off Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar around midnight on 11 August with about 61,000 tonnes of LNG. Petrobangla did not allow it to berth at Summit's floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) over concerns about its safety and suitability.

The 29-year-old Alhamra, a Moss-type LNG carrier built in 1997, can carry about 135,000 cubic metres of LNG. It is 290 metres long, 48 metres wide and has an 11.3-metre draft, with spherical tanks for LNG storage. The vessel remained near the terminal without connecting for unloading.

"The vessel could not meet our standard requirements for acceptance, which is why it could not be accepted," Deen Mohammad, general manager (LNG) at Petrobangla, told The Business Standard.

He said the cargo would be replaced. "The vessel has already returned. They will provide us with a replacement cargo," he said.

However, Nurul Alam, assistant general manager of Uni-Global, the vessel's local shipping agent, said Alhamra had yet to leave Maheshkhali.

"The vessel is still at Maheshkhali. We have not received any decision to return the vessel without unloading. If such a decision comes, the vessel will be returned following the proper procedure," he told TBS.

Asked whether the rejection could cause an LNG shortage, Deen Mohammad said there was no immediate concern as other cargoes were in the pipeline. "This is a continuous process. The cargoes are being procured and supplied. We are trying to ensure continuous and smooth supply," he said.

Meanwhile, declining FSRU supplies have pushed national gas supply to just above 2,200 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd). On 15-16 August, LNG supply stood at 803 mmcfd and total gas supply at 2,418 mmcfd.

At 6pm today (17 August), LNG supply fell to 636 mmcfd after Petrobangla could not ensure the scheduled cargo. Summit FSRU supplied 500-520 mmcfd at full capacity, while Excelerate supplied around 100 mmcfd; the rest came from local sources.

Petrobangla said LNG supply will remain low until 23 August due to reduced supplier deliveries during 17-23 August.