Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has signed its first contract with Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to supply cleaning chemicals during 2011 – 2012, demonstrating an ongoing growth for WSS within what is an increasingly important region to the company. The port of Karachi comprises a deep natural harbor with an 11 km long approach channel, designed to provide safe navigation for vessels up to 75,000 metric tons deadweight. The first order is for de-scaling liquid for the fleet of dredgers operating in the KPT dry dock. Annually, KPT uses approximately 8000 liters of this product.
“We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with KPT,” comments Moloy Das, Area Sales Manager for Wilhelmsen Ships Service in the sub-continent. “We won the contract despite fierce competition and hope to expand our business further with the Trust in the foreseeable future.”
Ali Mansoor, Account Manager for Wilhelmsen Ships Service in the region, adds, “We are actively looking to grow our reach on the sub-continent. The current market which exists as a result of the global recession means that customers are looking for quality products and services and above all, cost effectiveness. Local maritime businesses are realizing the benefits of working with companies like Wilhelmsen Ships Service who can help them improve their operational efficiency.”
SG Ali Ahmed, General Manager for Wilhelmsen Ships Service, echoed these thoughts as he talked about the development of shipping in the region, saying: “Due to the geo-strategic location of Pakistan’s neighboring countries such as China, India, Afghanistan and Iran, and with further access into the CIS (former Soviet Republic) countries we feel that the activities in port and shipping in all three of the ports of Pakistan will continue to grow at a fast pace.”