Polar Spirit finally unloads LNG in Argentina

First October cargo was finally unloaded in Argentina at the port of Escobar with seven more vessels waiting for their turn.  

About 89.880 cbm were discharged from the Polar Spirit which marked the first LNG unload in Argentina since September 25, reports Platts.

Cues off the coast of Argentina formed due to the bad financial situation as well as a poor consumption estimate according to market observers. It was also suggested that domestic production should be cut to make space for LNG that would otherwise not be necessary.

High tides and strong winds from unusual spring temperature in the period from October 2 to October 6 made the entry to the ports of Bahia Blanca and Escobar impossible, according to Argentina’s Planning Ministry.

There are 7 more vessels waiting to unload their cargo, four at Escobar port and three outside the port of Bahia Blanca, with LNG vessels Lobito and Iberica Knutsen waiting for more than three weeks.

One of the vessels scheduled for Argentina, the British Ruby was recently redirected towards Cape Town in South Africa.

Argentinian Planning Ministry did however state that the unloading of the vessels will occur, but no timeline was provided.

LNG World News Staff, October 10, 2014; Image: Teekay