KARACHI: The administration of Gwadar Port is likely to face a number of problems including shortage of heavy machineries, technical staff and skilled labour to handle first wheat cargo ship to be anchored at this port on March 10.
The administration of the port has sought help from Ministry of Ports and Shipping and Karachi Port Trust (KPT). They also demand for required machinery, technical staff and labour, sources told Daily Times.
M. V. Pos Glory carrying 70,000 metric tonnes wheat from Russia is expected to reach the port sometime from March 10.
Sources said, “a local company has chartered this ship and is having problems as it is carrying heavy shipment that cannot be brought at Gwadar Port.” “Under these circumstances it is expected that 22,900 metric tonnes of wheat would be discharged into another ship near off port area to avoid any mishap. Now M.V. Pos Glory ship will bring only 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat at Gwadar port.”
When Daily Times approached key official of the shipping company, he said that for last two weeks there are rumours circulating, the ship will not anchor at the Gwadar Port as such heavy vessels cannot anchor at this port. These are all speculations, as the vessel carrying 72,900 MT wheat is due to reach on 10 March and can anchor at the port, he added.
On the issue of discharging the wheat on another ship he said “Due to the safety concern it has been advised to discharge approximately 9,000 tonnes of wheat into another ship but this advise is under consideration and this decision is yet to finalised”. He further said that to be on the safe side the port has arranged three tugs instead of two for the ship and everybody involved in this operation is fully prepared to handle it. As this is the first vessel to anchor, therefore there are some safety considerations and if final decision is to discharge some of the wheat then the substitute would be arranged in a week time and this would not have a major effect on price.
He said, no one was willing to bring any vessel on the Gwadar port but Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has taken this bold step. No one realises that due to this step the port would be finally operational. Harboring the ship at this port is also cutting costs by an amount of $1,239,300.
Although when Daily Times approached the Chairman Gwadar Port he said he is unaware of this issue and the right person to contact is MD Operation. When DT contacted him he refused to give any comments on this issue.
The largest deep-water port is being operational after one year of its inauguration. Initially the port will be used as captive cargo or for trans-shipment purposes only.
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