Shipping channels unaffected by Hormuz tensions

Published April 20, 2026
Containers are discharged at Karachi Port. —Courtesy KPT/File
Containers are discharged at Karachi Port. —Courtesy KPT/File

ISLAMABAD: Despite the volatile situation in the Strait of Hormuz, shipping movement rem­ains normal in Pakistan, and oil tankers continue to arrive in the country bringing fuel supplies.

After discharging crude oil brought from Fujairah, UAE, the marine tanker (MT) Sargodha, owned by the Pakistan National Shipping Company (PNSC), at Karachi port, two more are expected to berth, bringing petroleum fuel.

The three tankers expected to berth at Karachi port include MT Shalimar and MT Lahore, both belonging to the PNSC, to discharge crude oil.

Meanwhile, MT Martini is expected to berth at Karachi port on Monday evening (today) for the loading of surplus ‘fuel oil’ produced in Pakistan.

Three PNSC tankers carrying crude likely to dock today

Fuel oil is a liquid petroleum by-product derived from crude oil distillation, consisting of long-chain hydrocarbons used primarily for heating, power generation, and marine engines.

Other tankers, including MT Hafnia Henriette and MT Wan HE, have berthed at Karachi port to load naphtha and ethanol, while MT Eva Gold sailed from the port after loading ethanol.

The port witnessed active containerised cargo movement of more than 60,554 tonnes, including 58,366 tonnes of import cargo and 2,188 tonnes of export-oriented containers. Meanwhile, two ships, Pan Concord and Echo GR, offloaded 1,388 tonnes of imported soya bean meal.

Three ships, Hosun, Galaxy, and Liana, are lifting 611 tonnes of rice for export, bringing total liquid, dry, and bulk cargo handling to around 80,000 tonnes at Karachi port on Sunday. Meanwhile, 19 cargo ships are scheduled to berth at Karachi port on Monday.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2026

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