Tankers transiting through the Panama Canal are expected to face delays of up to four days due to a backlog of vessels waiting to pass through, industry sources based in the region said on Monday.
The backlog of vessels could not be ascertained immediately, but sources said the congestion was a result of the grounding of a clean products tanker in the Bas Obispo Reach of the Canal last Wednesday.
"Delays are about three days and depending on size could be up to four days. I don't know exactly how many tankers are waiting to pass, but congestions are because of tanker grounding last week," a Panama Canal control room officer said.
Port and shipping agents said that the clean products tanker carrying diesel ran aground after losing its steering. Details of the grounding were not immediately available.
Data from the United States' Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that about 24.2 million tonnes of crude oil and petroleum products passed through the Panama Canal in 2004, with crude contributing about 28 percent of the total oil flowing through the passage. About 70 percent of oil flowing through the Canal move from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
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