The login interface of a bonded bunker fuel dispatching system launched in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, on Aug 20 [Photo/WeChat account: zsmica]
Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, among the top 10 ports in the world in terms of bonded bunker fuel supply, launched a bonded bunker fuel dispatching system on Aug 20, the first of its kind anywhere on earth.
Under the new system, a local ocean shipping agency was able to handle a refueling request from a Liberian bulk cargo vessel within just five minutes on Aug 20, when the ship was still in transit to Zhoushan from North China's Hebei province.
"Previously, the refueling application had to be dealt with by fax, which took five hours, but now shipping agencies can send a request online and wait for oil suppliers to take the order. The whole process takes just a few minutes," said Xia Jingchi, a staff member of the bonded bunker fuel dispatching center in Zhoushan Port Free Trade Zone.
The Liberian ship was refueled with 1,410 metric tons of bonded bunker fuel by China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co Ltd in Xiazhimen anchorage, Zhoushan, on the morning of Aug 21.
A total of five ships applied for refueling through the system on Aug 20, reaching 2,600 tons of fuel.
According to local authorities, the administrative committee of Zhoushan Port Free Trade Zone started development on the system last December and finished in April. Before launch, the system underwent four months of tests.
The system includes application review and approval, intelligent anchorage arrangement, real-time surveillance of the refueling process, data recording and a warning mechanism in case of abnormalities.
Zhoushan piloted paperless customs clearance of ships in China last year. A total of 83 system innovations have been made since the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone was established in the city more than two years ago.
Statistics show that the bunker fuel supply in Zhoushan Port reached 2.21 million tons in the first seven months of the year, up 11.38 percent year on year.
