Ship assessors are resorting to virtual inspections of oil tankers to keep vessels afloat, as the coronavirus pandemic makes physical visits to check for seaworthiness tougher and a slump in fuel demand increases the need for ships as storage.
FILE PHOTO: An oil tanker and a container ship sit off shore of the port of the Long Beach during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Long Beach, California, U.S., April 23, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
With an estimated 160 million barrels of surplus oil being kept onboard dozens of tankers because on-land storage is full, the situation is pressing. “If the crew or master does not feel safe with anyone coming onboard then you cannot put an inspector onboard,” said Rob Drysdale, a director with the Oil Companies International Marine Forum association.
It said SIRE inspections had by fallen 25% in April versus the same period last year following a 15% drop in March versus March 2019 when nearly 2,000 tankers were surveyed.
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