Huge oil tanker traffic jam builds at Iraq’s Basra port | Reuters
▻http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-oil-tanker-traffic-idUSKCN0X315L
A traffic jam of nearly 30 large oil tankers has built up outside the Iraqi port of Basra due to loading delays, with some waiting up to three weeks and costing ship operators around $75,000 a day per vessel.
Shippers and port sources said more delays are expected throughout April as the city’s facilities struggle to cope with Iraq’s soaring crude output.
[…]
Some of the tankers, which would stretch more than 8 kms (5 miles) if placed end-to-end, have been waiting three weeks to load crude from Basra Oil Terminal, according to ship tracking data and port agents.
Sources said the current waiting time to load Basra heavy crude is 18-19 days, compared with an average time of 5-10 days.
In Baghdad, Iraqi oil ministry spokesman Asim Jihad said the wait is due to bad weather and should not exceed 15 days.