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Port constraints for Canada's Trans Mountain pipeline may crimp oil exports

Logistical restraints at the Port of Vancouver mean waterborne oil exports from the highly anticipated Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX) might only be around half what the Canadian governmentowned corporation has projection, traders and shipping sources stated.

After 12 years and C$ 34 billion ($ 25 billion), the job to almost triple the flow of crude from landlocked Alberta to Canada's Pacific Coast to 890,000 barrels each day started commercial operations on Wednesday after regulative hold-ups and building and construction problems.

The additional 590,000 bpd of oil will be delivered to the Westridge Marine Terminal where it can be loaded onto tankers, offering Canadian manufacturers more access to U.S. West Coast and Asian markets.

Trans Mountain states it has capability to load 34 Aframax ships a month, but ship brokers and analysts have actually pegged the most likely number at less than 20, citing concerns about pilot and pull boat schedule and filling restrictions.

In theory they can manage the volumes, however auxiliary or secondary services are not ready for huge volumes, said Rohit Rathod, senior oil market analyst at ship tracking company Vortexa.

Ship broker BRS approximated just 15-17 Aframaxes a month would leave Westridge dock. Over the last few years, information showed loadings at Westridge have actually averaged one or two Aframaxes per month, BRS stated, suggesting a significant increase in tanker traffic.

Vessels leaving Westridge dock must go through a busy narrow shipping channel that runs underneath 2 significant bridges to reach the open sea.

To handle high traffic in the channel, the Port of Vancouver has limitations including daylight-only transit for Aframax tankers and particular transit times based on tidal currents, stated Sean Baxter, the port's acting director of marine operations.

Aframaxes generally carry as much as 800,000 barrels but at Westridge they will be restricted to packing around 550,000 barrels since of draft restrictions.

Tankers bring Trans Mountain crude will likewise need to be accompanied by a pilot and a yank boat for longer on each trip, as part of brand-new regulations troubled the growth task.

HIGHER FREIGHT COSTS

Traders and experts stated any slippage in the loading schedules could rise freight expenses for shippers.

Prolonged time at anchorage and in port due to hold-ups can increase demurrage charges, costs imposed for using a vessel beyond set dates, stated Brendan Hoffman, CEO of shipping consultancy service Haugen Consulting LLC. It might also tighten the supply of offered Aframax vessels, he included.

That would add to already-high pipeline tolls at the exact same time increased demand for oil to feed the pipeline is expected to boost prices for Canadian heavy crude, which may restrict need from Asian buyers, rerouting crude to the U.S. West Coast.

Shipping crude on an Aframax directly to China would take about 18-20 days and cost about $17.42 a barrel, consisting of pipeline tariffs, according to BRS. On the other hand, it would take 2-3 days to get to California.

Brian Young, chief operating officer for the Pacific Pilotage Authority in Vancouver, stated port authorities will be able to deal with the increased traffic and there were enough pilots trained to meet the additional need.

The existing regime has actually remained in place for 30 years, it's. just going to be more of the very same, said Young, adding he. expected there to be a gradual increase in vessels loadings with. Trans Mountain crude over the next 12 to 18 months.

Trans Mountain said its style for the expanded pipeline. system gave cautious consideration to different marine logistics. aspects including tides, drafts, weather, and daylight. limitations.

Our engineering studies and simulation work indicate we. will have the ability to meet contractual requirements provided these. external aspects, a spokesperson said in an e-mail.

Oil markets will identify how many and how often tankers. will call at the terminal month to month.

AFRAMAX OVERSUPPLY

Trans Mountain expects the very first tanker to load at Westridge. in the second half of May.

One shipping source said it was still unclear how much. demand for Aframaxes to transfer Trans Mountain crude would. materialise in the near-term.

We're actually waiting like crows with some of ours. ( ships), stated the source, who was not authorized to speak on. the record. The concern is do we keep waiting like vultures or. rearrange our Aframaxes to other markets.

An oversupply of Aframax crude tankers on the west coast of. the Americas in anticipation of the Trans Mountain expansion. pressured Vancouver-loading rates to six-month short on April 19,. said Tray Swanson, a freight pricing analyst at Argus.

About 27 Aframax vessels that could bring crude oil were. waiting along the Pacific Coast for charters to get TMX. cargo, according to Vortexa, with a minimum of 14 of them being. empty.

Shipowners have positioned more vessels to be on the west. coast to please awaited demand in Vancouver, but that. demand has yet to materialize, leaving the Aframax market. oversupplied in the meantime, Swanson said.

Any delays in shipping could likewise fuel volatility in oil. prices in Alberta.

There's no cosmetics capability if there's a lost day (at. Westridge), one Calgary-based oil broker said.

There's inadequate storage down on the dock so it will back. up in Edmonton.. ($ 1 = 1.3698 Canadian dollars)

(source: Reuters)