The Hirado: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

On October 18, 2019, at 11:25 PM, the oil tanker 'Hirado', which was en route from the Basra Offshore Oil Terminal, experienced an alarming security incident while navigating the Malacca Strait at coordinates 001 06 13.8N, 103 43 45.6E. Five unidentified individuals were spotted in the vessel's engine room. The Master acted promptly, sounding the alarm to alert the crew, which prompted the intruders to abandon the tanker. Though a thorough search was conducted, no items were reported stolen, and there were no further sightings of the suspects on board. The Singaporean authorities were promptly informed of the situation via VHF radio. Importantly, there was no confrontation between the crew and the intruders during this episode. Following the event, the 'Hirado' resumed its journey, with its next port of call set for Yingkou, scheduled to arrive on October 27.

On Thursday, Iraq officially commenced oil loading operations from its newly established floating Single Point Mooring (SPM) platform located in the Gulf, marking a pivotal advancement in its export capabilities. According to two sources from the state-owned South Oil Company, the loading began at 2:45 PM local time (11:45 GMT) with operations described as running smoothly. One source reported, "The loading process is normal. The condition of the pipes and the SPM is stable, and we are experiencing no issues." The tanker Maersk Hirado, which is currently facilitating the export, achieved an impressive loading rate of 22,000 barrels per hour. Historically, Iraq's oil exports have struggled due to inadequate loading infrastructure in the Gulf, a consequence of prolonged neglect stemming from conflicts and economic sanctions. The new platform, constructed by Australian firm Leighton, had faced delays in its launch, primarily due to adverse weather conditions. This newly operational terminal is the first of a series of four planned installations, each designed to handle a capacity of 850,000 barrels per day. Together, these facilities are set to enhance Iraq's export capacity by an additional 3.4 million barrels, aligning with the country’s ambition to double its oil production in the forthcoming years.