Cyclone Phailin Haults Port Operations in India
Tens of thousands flee on east coast
A cyclone nearly half the size of India has caused 260,000 people in low lying and coastal areas to flee their homes, and the government expects half a million people to seek shelter before the storm makes land fall Saturday. Already Cyclone Phailin, with its 130-135mph sustained wind speeds has been termed a super cyclone and classified as the strongest category 5 storms by London-based Tropical Storm Risk. Some forecasters have compared its size and strength to 2005 hurricane Katarina, which ravaged New Orleans and the surrounding coastal areas.
Large waves, some up to 12 feet high, began hitting the shores today in the Eastern state of Andhra Pradesh. Local fishermen were forced to pull their boats on to the shore following warnings of the storm’s imminent approach. Many, who make their living from the sea, were reluctant to evacuate for fear of leaving their boats behind.
In response to storm warnings, the Indian government shut down all cargo operations at Paradip Port, a major crude oil, coal and iron ore handling port. Indian Oil Corp (IOC), India’s state owned oil and gas corporation, holding 49% of the share of the Indian petroleum product market, moved the very large crude carrier (VLCC) DHT Phoenix holding a million barrels of Saxi and Nemba crudes from Paradip Port. They have also relocated the aframax tanker Desh Rakshak, which was loaded with 638,000 barrels of oil to the northern port of Haldia after partially unloading its cargo at the Paradip Port. In total nearly $175 million worth of oil was diverted today from this major east Indian port.
IOC has also announced that they have shut down the Paradip-Haldia pipeline, which transports around 11 million tons of crude oil per year to nearby refineries, and the Single Buoy Mooring facility at Paradip Port.
that matters most
Get the latest maritime news delivered to your inbox daily.
The D6 natural gas block operated by Reliance Industries, India’s largest gas field, is located south of the cyclone’s anticipated path in the Cauvery Basin. The company has said it is not expecting to be hit by the storm.
Additionally, the two Eastern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa that will be most severely affected by the storm, are among India’s largest rice producers. This season was set to be a record growing season, but G. Nagendra, president of the Andhra Pradesh Rice Millers Association, has stated that crops will be affected by the cyclone. -MarEx