April 26, 2024 – Shipping activity in Port Qasim

KARACHI, April 26, 2024 – Port Qasim, one of Pakistan’s major maritime gateways, witnessed active shipping activities as several ships arrived and departed and handled significant cargo volumes, according to the latest Port Qasim Authority (PQA) report on Friday.

The day started with the docking of three key vessels – the Seaspan Beacon, SSL Brahmaputra and Haj Muhammad – at the Container Terminal and the Multi-Purpose Terminal respectively. These ships were loading and unloading containers and cement, critical to supporting the logistics needs of the country’s industrial sectors.

Furthermore, the LNG tanker named ‘Doha’ also made its way to the outer anchorage of Port Qasim, highlighting the port’s role in facilitating energy imports, which are crucial to meeting the country’s needs in the field of energy generation.

The PQA highlighted in its daily shipping report that a total of nine ships had berthed at the berths in the past 24 hours, showing a bustling scene at the port facilities. Of these, six ships, including SSL Brahmaputra, Seaspan Beacon, Seacon Yokohama, Asia Liberty, Bateleur and Hansa Oslo, were expected to depart on the same day, to make room for new arrivals and maintain the flow of maritime traffic.

Cargo throughput in the past 24 hours amounted to an impressive 115,266 tonnes, with import freight at 87,961 tonnes and export freight at 27,305 tonnes. These operations involve the handling of 3,291 containers, including 2,188 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) for imports and 1,103 TEUs for exports, reflecting a significant volume of trade handled through the port.

Three additional ships were reported at the outer anchorage of Port Qasim, including the Lila Ace and the aforementioned Doha. These ships, carrying chemicals and liquefied natural gas respectively, were scheduled to dock at EVTL (Engro Vopak Terminal Limited) and EETL (Engro Elengy Terminal Limited) later the same day. This move underlines Port Qasim’s crucial role in handling various types of cargo that support different sectors of the economy.

In addition, the report anticipates the arrival of two more container ships, CMA CGM Nabuco and Apollon-D, scheduled for the following day, Saturday. This consistent influx and dispatch of vessels illustrates the dynamic nature of Port Qasim’s operations and its crucial contribution to both the local and national economies.

The strategic importance of Port Qasim lies not only in facilitating trade but also in strengthening Pakistan’s economic framework by facilitating efficient import-export activities. The port continues to adapt to the increasing demands of maritime trade and logistics, remaining an important player in the region’s economic landscape.

As shipping activities continue at a rapid pace, stakeholders including exporters, importers and logistics companies are highly dependent on the timely and efficient services provided by Port Qasim, further cementing Port Qasim’s status as an essential part of Pakistan’s trade infrastructure strengthens.