Karachi Port Trust News

Pakistani port authorities plan to remove fuel from a merchant ship that ran aground in rough seas last week before making a salvage attempt in the middle of next month, an official said on Monday.Panama registered M.V. Heng Tong 77 was anchored in Pakistan's territorial waters off Karachi for a crew change on July 21 when it lost anchors due to rough seas and drifted towards the shore, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) said."By the time the vessel informed KPT of her drifting, it was already in shallow waters," the port authority said in a tweet.

Pakistan Customs has taken delivery of two Damen Stan Patrol 1605 FRP patrol boats. The handover ceremony took place on March 10 at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Ltd (KS&EW). The celebrationwas attended by distinguished guests including Dr Miftah Ismail, advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs, Mr. Iftikhar Ahmed, Collector Pakistan Customs, Rear Admiral Syed Hasan Nasir Shah, Managing Director of KS&EWand Mrs. ArdiStoios-Braken, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The vessels were built by KS&EWwith technical and material support from Damen.The entire project took just eight months and was completed successfully thanks to the high level of cooperation and trust between the two partners.

The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Guangdong Transport Department, China signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for strengthening shipping connectivity and establishing cooperation. The MoU was signed by KPT Chairman Vice Admiral Shafqat Jawed and Guangdong Transport Department Director General Zeng Zhaogeng. The signing took place when a delegation, led by Guangdong Vice Governor Liu Zhigeng visited the Karachi port. Talking on the occasion Minister Ports and Shipping said that the MOU is the first ever in KPT’s history. In the past such agreements were made at the level of foreign ministry. Appreciating China’s help, support and efforts he said that the MOU between the KPT and CPT will turn out to be a milestone in the times to come.

By the end of this year, the E- Class vessels are expected to steam through newly constructed three breakwaters and one revetment at Keamari Groyne of Karachi port coastline, reports the Dawn. Safe mooring alongside berths of Pakistan Deep Water Container Port (PDWCP) will welcome the new generation ships such as Emma Maersk, categorized as E-class vessel. The first phase of the PDWCP project is heading towards completion as the contractor has already handed over two berths to Karachi Port Trust (KPT) which expects take to over the other two by the middle of this year. The Chinese contractor, working on the project, has completed Marine Protection Work (MPW).

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.

The Pakistan government has decided to upgrade the basic infrastructure for construction of commercial cargo ships and warships, including F-22 P frigates, in Karachi, according to a report on www.uniquepakistan.com. The government has allocated funds for the fiscal year 2007-08 and it has already dropped Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited (KSEW) from its proposed privatization list. It is envisaged that if shipbuilding projects for the Pakistan Navy, Karachi Port Trust (KPT)…

The wreck of the TASMAN SPIRIT has been successfully removed. The aft section was re-floated on Saturday, March 6, and was yesterday delivered to buyers at Gadani Beach in the province of Baluchistan, Pakistan. This follows the earlier removal of the forward section of the tanker that had run aground in the channel into Karachi Port on July 27 last year. The wreck removal contractors SMIT Salvage B.V., were operating under a wreck removal contract agreed with The American Club, the vessel’s liability insurers. Speaking in London, Brian Davies, Claims Director of The American Club said, ‘We are very pleased with the outcome. SMIT have completed a difficult operation under difficult circumstances well within the required time frame.

See Story to the Left) The wreck of the TASMAN SPIRIT has been successfully removed. However, the seven crew of the Tasman Spirit, together with the Greek salvage master, remain hostages held under spurious criminal charges filed by the Karachi Port Trust (KPT).