Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port, run by China’s CM Ports group with Chinese oil group Sinopec, has stocked up bunker oil to supply ships passing the island with the global shipping industry hit by the fallout of Coronavirus.

“The port invested in refurbishing the tank farm to Lloyd’s classification standards and the tank farm facility will be operated and managed by Sinopec, a leading global operator, who will train our local staff up to international standards in safety and operation,” Tissa Wickramasinghe Chief Operating Officer of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) said.

“The facility has a fully fledged oil testing laboratory at the site. HIP aims to become the bunkering hub of the region and will work with Sinopec and the local bunker suppliers in making this a reality.”

The vessel MT. Melody, docked at Hambantota port and discharged 30,000 metric tonnes of 380 CST low sulphur fuel oil at the ports newly refurbished tanks. The

The International Maritime Organization set a limit for sulphur bunker fuels of 0.50 percent m/m (mass by mass) from 1 January 2020. The fuel will be supplied by Sinopec.
 
In October 2018, the port partnered with LAUGFS Gas, a Sri Lanka -based energy firm to store and transship liquefied petroleum gas. The port also handles vehicles. (Colombo/April08/2020)

https://economynext.com/sri-lankas-china-run-port-stocked-up-to-oil-coronavirus-hit-indian-ocean-shipping-64533/