May 27, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 24,1424

KARACHI, May 26: Cargo handling activity at the Karachi port on Monday was maintained on the higher side as the total tonnage rose to 98,295 tons 49,000 tons a day earlier.

According to a KPT press release both the dry and the liquid tonnage showed sharp increase owing to steady handling of both oil tankers and container ships.

The export tonnage rose to 24,992 tons including 16,000 tons of dry cargo and the imported tonnage rose to 73,000 tons, which also included 40,000 tons of oils.

Berthing activity was active as seven ships, PONL Malandi, Sima Bahar, Bunga Mastiga, Ocean Luna, Izumo and Lt. Grand to unload and load containers, Gestone to offload phosphate and Sorena to unload crude oil were berthed after the departure of six.

The ships, which departed were led by Cape Henry, Bunga Mastiga, PONL Malandi, Kota Tegap, Ocean Luna and Jo Brevik, while X-Press Kailash, Kaghan, Sorena, Sima Bahar, Kota Wajar and Izumo are due to sail out on Tuesday.

The following ships are due on Tuesday: Shamrock Star with chemicals, Sinar Bangka and APL Venezuela, with containers.