The government has given the approval for the maintenance dredging of a navigational channel of Gwadar Port. The cost of maintenance has gone up to Rs 4.7 billion which stood at Rs 1 billion in June 2022.
The maintenance is?required to save the cargo ships from any mishaps as it is resulting in the diversion of bigger ships as the port can handle about 30,000 dead weight tonnage (DWT) ships rather than the designed capacity of 50,000 dead weight tonnage.?
Gwadars navigation channel was cleaned in 2014-15. Now due to sedimentation of clay, sand and mud, dredging is must.? Earlier, the cost of dredging was estimated at Rs.1 billion as Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) and Ministry Maritime Affairs developed the dredging design in June, last year. The estimate was done in emergency. The cost had to be increased based upon the study of Pakistan Navy, followed by the competitive bidding.
The approved project is the maintenance dredging of 4.7 kilometer navigational channel, basin and berthing area of Gwadar port. Its internal navigational channel and turning basin design depth is 13.8 meters for safe navigation of deep draft vessels and the berthing area and outer channel is drdeged to 14.5 meter to permit safe berthing and enough cleaning from bottom in low tides.?As per International Maritime Organization (IMO), it is mandatory to keep safe navigation of vessels in ports.
GPA is to accomplish this obligation under relevant clause of concession agreement China Overseas Ports Holding Company Limited (COPHC) to keep the port Channel in a?safe zone, prevent?claims and loss in Gwadar Port business and to meet the requirements of global shipping market.
The maintenance process has already been delayed for few years which may have serious repercussions in term of penalties and damages, might be imposed on Gwadar Port Authority by the Concession Holder due to loss in business or grounding of ships. After the completion of maintenance process, the ports efficiency will improve, facilitating the smooth movement of vessels.