Ships collide at Karachi port, more than a dozen containers fall into sea
Nearly a dozen of containers fell into the sea after Hapeg-Lloyd’s ship Tolten and Hamburg Bay collided at Pakistan’s deepest port, the local media reported on Monday.
No casualties were reported in the collision.
As per international practice, a ship moving in or out of a port area has to be handled and mastered by a pilot of the port till the time the ship is either safely berthed or sailed out.
In this case, the KPT pilot was handling the incoming vessel for berthing but unfortunately due to some human error or weather conditions the ship collided with the other vessel which was ready to sail out after loading its cargo at berth No 3, the sources said.
Although the port authorities have initiated an inquiry into the incident, the sources said that the KPT had no SOP (standard operating procedure) for dealing with such incidents and fixing of responsibility.
Both the ships would have to stay at the port until the time the inquiry was completed and that might cause any amount of financial losses to the parties involved, the sources added.
As per international practice, a ship moving in or out of a port area has to be handled and mastered by a pilot of the port till the time the ship is either safely berthed or sailed out.
In this case, the KPT pilot was handling the incoming vessel for berthing but unfortunately due to some human error or weather conditions the ship collided with the other vessel which was ready to sail out after loading its cargo at berth No 3, the sources said.
Although the port authorities have initiated an inquiry into the incident, the sources said that the KPT had no SOP (standard operating procedure) for dealing with such incidents and fixing of responsibility.
Both the ships would have to stay at the port until the time the inquiry was completed and that might cause any amount of financial losses to the parties involved, the sources added.
Sources said that Pakistan’s two key oil importing facilities at Karachi Port and Port Qasim are facing extreme congestion because of port constraints and increasing road and sea transport, resulting in economic loss and higher financial costs.
Statistics show the Karachi port has handled more ships during July-December of the current fiscal year, with a total of 1,066 vessels called at the port, as against 957 ships handled in the same period last year.
Statistics show the Karachi port has handled more ships during July-December of the current fiscal year, with a total of 1,066 vessels called at the port, as against 957 ships handled in the same period last year.
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