Karwar: A tanker carrying bitumen from the United Arab Emirates arrived at Karwar port, marking what port sources described as the first such shipment from the UAE since the recent escalation of conflict in West Asia disrupted key shipping routes. The ship arrived at the port on Friday and left Karwar on Saturday.The vessel, named Cheng X, pulled in after a voyage that began on March 3 from Khor Fakkan port in the UAE. The ship, with a capacity of around 5,500 tonnes, was loaded with approximately 3,100 tonnes of bitumen, a vital material for road construction and other infrastructure projects in the region.The journey took the tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical and currently tense maritime chokepoints. Despite temporary restrictions and heightened risks in the area amid the ongoing war involving Iran, the Cheng X made it through safely and reached Karwar.This arrival stood out because supplies from West Asia, especially bitumen and diesel, were badly hit by the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Karwar port, which relied on these regular shipments, saw operations slow down in recent weeks.The safe transit and delivery came as a small but welcome relief for local industries dependent on these imports, even as broader shipping challenges in the region continued. Port officials were hopeful that more vessels would follow suit in the coming days if conditions stabilised.
