Karachi Harbor

Page 2

      Port is equipped with VHF radio telephone, calling channel 16, working channel 12. Control Station call sign 'Manora Pilot Control'. Vessels should establish radio contact with control station as soon as they are within VHF range. Ships while entering harbor are to maintain watch on Channel 12 as soon as Pilot boards. Ships in harbor scheduled to sail are to keep a listening watch half an hour before sailing till their clearance from port. 'Intercommunication with the ships, other than Pilot Control, at Outer Anchorage or ships in harbor on Channels 12 and 16 is strictly prohibited. The Manora Pilot Control Station is equipped with multi-channel VHF Radio Telephone sets which are operating on international Maritime Channels 8,9,11,12 and 16 subject to above restrictions'. All vessels calling at Karachi are to notify, via VHF, the arrival time, vessel's name, flag/cargo, anchor time and position turn and name of local Agent. This anchoring time is taken for both berthing turn and also serving N.O.R. ( in case of Charter vessel), to receiver/shippers. There are 8 diesel tugs owned by Port Trust. Four tugs have bollard pull varying from 10 tons to 18 tons. 2 tugs have 27 tons bollard pull and 2(Voith Schneider) tugs have 35 tons bollard pull. Normally two tugs are used, depending on the discretion of the pilot considering the safety aspects. The tug charges are on per tug per act basis charged in US Dollars. Towage inside the harbor is rendered by Port authorities on signal from Pilot. Towage is not provided outside the breakwater except in very special circumstances at the direction of the Deputy Conservator, subject to weather and availability of tugs, on special terms and conditions. There are 17 berths at East Wharves, total quay age 8,622 ft. Berth Nos. 1 to 17 are on a concrete quay wall of the latest type. Lengths vary from 470 ft. to 550 ft.. Available depths vary from 9.0 m to 11.8 m. There are 13 berths at West Wharf and their length varies from 550 ft. to 700 ft. Depths available vary from 8.0 m to 10.8 m (see 'Berth' details).

There are three Oil Piers which can accommodate tankers of overall length between 960 ft. and 1000 ft.(See below).

        Mineral oils discharged at the Bulk Oil Pier. 3 berths, and at West Wharf Berth No.20 Heavy grades may be discharged at the steamer wharves but dangerous petroleum only at the Oil Piers. Vegetable oils are handled at both the terminals mentioned above. Max. Draft 39 ft. LOA 750 ft, berth 1000 ft. Berth upgraded and dredged to accept vessels upto 75,000 d.w.t. Product handled: Crude oil, furnace oil etc.

West Wharf: Max draft 32 ft.

Product handled: Hot Crude, Tallow.

Max. LOA 1000 ft., max. beam 130 ft. max. loaded draft 35 ft., max 35,000 tones.

Product handled: Gas oil, jet oil, AV gas, palm oil, vegetable oil.

OP-3 commissioned in 1995, is capable of accommodating vessels with the following parameters:

OP-3 is housed with 9 loading arms, manually operated by quick universal connect couplers. The terminal can handle 8 million tons of liquid bulk cargo a year, consisting of all major products being imported into and exported from Pakistan.

Apart from loading arms which connect direct to ship's manifolds there are various pipelines which have jetty manifolds for connection with ship's manifolds by using flexible houses. The loading arms and other manifolds on the jetty are connected to shore manifolds, which provides connections to all common users.

(i) Masters should ensure that all crew are in possession of valid health documents. Pakistani nationals must be in possession of Seaman's Book flight details one working day prior to arrival. Immigration:

(ii) All nationals require visas for entry into Pakistan . Ships crew can enter and leave Pakistan on Seaman's documents for purposes of joining vessel and/or on repatriation, for which Agent requires Seaman's Books/flight details one working day prior to arrival.

(iii) Seaman Books/Passports are required to be collected from Immigration authorities prior to sailing of vessel on surrender of the shore passes.

(iv) Taiwan, Israel and Indian nationals are not allowed ashore.

A modern new Container Terminal (KICT) with Gantries and RTG is now operative at Berths 28 to 30 since Nov,98. It has been leased out to American President Lines(APL) where presently APL ships and those of COSCO are being handled. Facility available to other lines as well. Recently Transshipment facilities for containers to other regional ports, have been introduced, at East Wharf. The charges have been kept to the minimum - even that of the Dock Labour, to make it cost effective for the shipping lines using this facility. Explosives of IMDG Code 1 are only allowed to be embarked/ disembarked from Berth 24, 25, 26 D.G.Sheds are available both at the East & West Wharves. To facilitate trade, the old time practice of shifting D.G.Cargo (IMDG Code 2 to 8) from ships by Barges has been done away. It can now be directly unloaded in the D.G.Shed, unless however it is to be stored on the opposite side of the channel, in which case Barges under control of the Dy.Conservator have to be used.

Watchman for ships compulsory. Mariners are required to inform the Hydrographic Department, Naval Headquarters, II Liaquat Barrack, Karachi, Pakistan immediately on the discovery of new dangers, or suspected dangers in navigation and of damages or defects in aid to navigation noticed in Navvaca IX and of shortcomings in PAK charts or publications.

Hydrographic Department, Naval Headquarter, II, Liaquat Barracks, Karachi 75530 Pakistan.

 It is an Islamic country.

 Dress worn outside be modest.

 Giving Alcohol to locals is against law and is prohibited.

 Beware of Drug peddlers in the city. Punishment may lead to death penalty.

 Being a Naval port photography is prohibited.

 Sunday is Holiday. Friday Half Day.

 Unit of Currency: Rupee (Approx. Rs:52 =$ 1 as in April,1999). This exchange rate makes shopping attractive.

A new chapter has been added to the Karachi Port with the earmarking of a dedicated Transshipment Area at the East Wharves.

In order to make the Transshipment of Containers cost effective for regional ports ex-Karachi the package of tariff charges (including Simplified Custom Procedures) are attractive. It will now be quite economical for the shipping lines to transshipment their cargo via Karachi.

For rates see Tariff.

Various formalities which were required for imports, can now be completed under one roof at a newly established location, adjacent to the Head Office, Karachi Port Trust. However, to further facilitate the port users, a new building with elaborate facilities has been constructed and should its fullfleched operation since 16-11-99.

A new Bridge with a beautiful fly over has been recently completed at the Entry/Exit points outside the port. With the construction of this bridge, traffic in and out of port now flows smoothly and the traffic jams of yesterdays are now history.

This bridge was inaugurated on 10 November 1997.