Fishing vessels bank up in CT

FISHING VESSELS, mainly of Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean origin, are banking up in Cape Town harbour unable to continue with their activities because of the severe shortage of gas oil. This commodity has been severely affected as a result of the Natref fire and the shutdown at DurbanÕe Engen refinery (see page 17).
"Some gas oil became available from July 10, but this is limited to 150 tons per vessel," says Ian Grayston of Cockett Marine, the company which monitors shipping fuel supplies. Durban harbour has available supplies of gas oil which is currently priced at US $276 per metric ton.