KARACHI, Nov 19 The Karachi Port has initiated major development projects which would enhance port's vessel and cargo handling capacity manifold.

These projects worth billions of rupees are presently in different stages of execution and completion, official sources told Dawn.

After the completion of these projects which are mostly related to berths, the Karachi Port would be in a position to accommodate larger vessels of post-Panamax generation with 100,000dwt.

Sources said nine berths are presently being undertaken for reconstruction and refurbishment and their draft is being increased from 11 to 16 metres which would help trade and industry to meet the scale of economies on getting their shipments through larger vessels and at lesser freight charges.

Berths Nos 11, 12 and 13, with 450 metres length of quay wall at East Wharf and with a deeper draft of 16 metres, are now ready for operations. However, KPT sources said these berths would be inaugurated by a dignitary for which a time-frame approval is awaited.

Apart from these berths, the Karachi Port is also working on the collapsed berths No 10 and 14, having a total length of 260 metres and a draft of 16 metres. These berths were constructed in the 1950s and collapsed in August 2007 on heavy monsoon rains. A KPT official disclosed that the cost of construction of five berths (No 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) is estimated at Rs5.5 billion and have a total quay wall length of 780 metres.

Almost all these berths have outlived their operational life, sources said.

Sources said work on the collapsed berths No 10 and 14 was delayed as local contractor initially assigned for the removal and clearance of debris failed to accomplish the task and a foreign company was hired.

However, the KPT official said around 30 per cent of piling work had been completed and the remaining civil work would be completed by the middle of next year.

These berths also have a draft of 16 metres and can accommodate post-Panamax vessels of 100,000dwt, he added.

He said the port of Karachi would have a complete new concept after these berths with deeper draft come into operation because marine crafts and other ancillary facilities would also have to be upgraded to meet the needs of larger vessels.

The official said that it would immensely benefit trade and industry because they would be in a position to reduce their cost by meeting the economies of scale and turn around time of vessels would also come down. In short, he said the port's activity would increase manifold.

The other major project being executed is reconstruction of berth No 15 to 17A, including SRB (ship repair berth). It is a gigantic project with an estimated cost of Rs9.7 billion, the KPT official said.

These four berths, including SRB, would be funded by the World Bank by $115 million. Presently, approval of pre-qualification of contractors is awaited from the World Bank and the KPT official hoped that it would be done within next 15 days.

The SRB's quay wall would be aligned with the remaining berths to get strait berthing facility at a time.

After the completion of these berths with 16 metres draft, it would enhance berthing capacity of vessels at the Karachi Port. The total quay wall of these berths (No15 to17A and SRB) would be 922 metres which would be able to accommodate seven to eight vessels of large size at a time.

However, a major step being undertaken by the KPT authorities is to increase turning circular so that larger vessels of post-Panamax generation could easily sail in and move out of port area. Besides, a project is also being undertaken to increase backup area badly needed for stacking of cargo. This project is estimated to cost the KPT Rs255 million.