KARACHI, Aug 23: The Korean contractors have agreed to first take up reconstruction of the collapsed berths at the Karachi port and hand them over to the port in a period of 15 months, official sources said on Thursday.

In a meeting held with the KPT officials, the Korean contractor, M/s Ssangyong, agreed to first take up reconstruction of berths No 10 to 14 and start mobilisation at the construction site from the first week of next month.

Sources said the contractor also agreed to meet tender document conditions, and complete the job on all the five jetties in 24 months.

It also transpired that the Korean contractors would not ask for price-escalation and would complete the job at the bid amount of Rs5.52 billion. Besides, the meeting laid down quality standards and that the contactor would also use fenders at the jetties, sources said.

The Karachi port had already worked on plans to reconstruct all the old berths, numbering 17 at East and West Wharf. The construction of these berths was to be undertaken in four phases. However, the collapse of berths No 10 and 14 at the East Wharf suddenly changed the situation and it warranted for early construction of the collapsed berths.

The draft of all these berths being undertaken for reconstruction would be 16 meters which would allow the port to moor ships of large sizes and meet economies of scale.

Sources said in the first phase, the Korean contractor would undertake construction of berths 10 to 14 (five berths) and in the second phase, berth 15 to 17A, including SRB (ship repair berth) at the East Wharf.

At the West Wharf, the KPT is going to construct berths 22 to 25 under the third phase, and in the fourth phase, berths one to four would be taken in hand at the East Wharf.

However, hiring of consultants, designing, cost-evaluation and tendering are yet to be undertaken for other jetties as Korean contractor was originally given contract for construction of berths 14 to 17 A and SRB.

However, after the collapse of berths No 10 and 14, the port authorities came under a difficult situation and were left with no choice, but to attend these jetties at the first instance.

The KPT officials termed the Thursday’s meeting successful as they managed to convince the Korean contractors to first take up the job of collapsed berths and those adjoining them.