KARACHI, March 7: Port and shipping experts have questioned the delay in operations of the Gwadar Port by the Port of Singapore Authority International (PSAI). The port was officially inaugurated on March 23, 2007 and a PNSC vessel was given berth on the occasion.

According to the concession signed between the PSAI and the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA), the former was to look after cargo handing, provide marine services and develop an export processing zone in partnership with AKD investments.But even after the lapse of one year no vessel was given berth and the deep- sea port of the country, located at a strategic shipping route, from where around 60 per cent of world oil moves, had been kept idle for no reason.

However, sources told Dawn that during this entire period no worth mentioning investment had been made by the PSAI except that two 22-year old re-built gantry cranes have been installed whereas the other port equipments are yet to be inducted into port’s operation fleet.

When the Gwadar Port was planned in 2000, two under-powered pilot boats and two tugs were purchased from China, but for a deep-sea port, where huge vessels have to call, these tugs and pilot boats are not suitable, the sources added.

It is also being questioned by the experts that as to why the policy-makers entered into long lease agreement for 40 years with the PSAI because normally period for such concessions does not exceed 20 to 25 years anywhere in the world. But even after getting a lengthy period for running the port, the PSAI has not delivered and not a penny had been invested so far, they added.

The two berths with 600-metre long quay wall with a draft of 14 metre were ready to accommodate ships. Also there is an approach channel with a deep draft to facilitate larger vessels then why the delay in making the port functional is, the experts asked.

Many questions are also being raised about the competency of the ministry of ports and shipping, which reportedly has no experts and skills required to bring this mega project into operations. It has even not asked the operators reasons for delay in the port becoming functional.

Even today, the port needs high power tugs and pilot boats and other port equipments, which could make the port operational. The cost of 22-year old gantry cranes is not more than Rs20 million, the experts assessed.

The experts also criticised the ‘artificial opening’ of the port by the then prime minister a year ago and said, thereafter, hardly any progress or investment was made in this prestigious project, which seems to have been put on the back burner.