KARACHI, May 23: The country’s first deep-sea container terminal, having a depth of 18 metres, is expected to receive first super post- Panamax container ship by the middle of 2014.

Work on Pakistan Deep Water Container Port (PDWCP) is in advanced stages, and 80 per cent marine protection work had been completed.

Official sources said around 60 per cent of dredging and reclamation works at a cost of Rs19.325 billion had been completed.

Work for construction of quay wall at a cost of Rs18.256 billion is also in advanced stages and the first berth is expected to be completed by end of this year.

Under first phase, the PDWCP will have four berths having 1500 metre quay length.

Initially the depth will be for 16 metres which could be further increased with the time and need, sources added.

The new port being developed by the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) will be most suitable for transshipment cargo and PDWCP is ideally located on the main sea route and outside the sensitive straight of Hurmoz.

Sources said that a design vessel similar to Emma Maersk of 400 metre LOA, 55 metre beam and 15 metre draft with 11,000TEUs on board has been used for planning the PDWCP.

The port will have 10 berths of 18 metres depth with five km quay wall.

The project will be carried out in phases and on public-private partnership (PPP).

The estimated total cost is $1.6 billion and under phase first, fourth berth with 1500 metre quay wall is being developed.

Four world renowned terminal operators had shown interest to operate PDWCP but it was won by Hutchison Port Holdings of Hong Kong.

The lease of the terminal will be for an initial period of 25 years extendable for another 25 years, on mutually agreed terms and conditions, KPT sources said.

Sources said that the terminal operator HPH is initially investing $457 million in developing berths, installing state of art equipment, like STS cranes and navigational aids, including buoys, lights VTS, radar, communications and other aspects as considered necessary for a modern terminal.