Qasim International Container Terminal

Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) was constituted on July 5, 1994 specifically to tender for the construction and operation of what would be Pakistan's first Dedicated International Container Terminal, to be built at Port Muhammad Bin Qasim on a build/own/operate basis.
In fact, QICT was a consortium put together by P&O Ports, Mackinnons Pakistan, P&O Containers Pakistan Limited, the Commonwealth Development Corporation of the UK, and the Pakistan-Kuwait Investment Company, the latter being a joint venture between the governments of Pakistan and Kuwait.
Subsequently P&O Ports demonstrating their commitment to the project, bought out CDC and Pak-Kuwait and now own 55% equity in QICT with 25% being owned by International Terminal Holdings limited of UK and 20% being owned by MaerskSealand. In March 2006 P&O Ports has been globally bought over by DPW (Dubai Ports World).
FOREIGN INVESTMENT: QICT was officially awarded the concession on July 25, 1995 on the understanding that US $50m would be invested in the overall terminal development. The US $50m box handling facility subsequently opened for business on August 10, 1997.
QICT ADVANTAGES: Port Qasim offers innumerable advantages over Karachi, which has allowed it to develop as a true international gateway. Among these is that QICT employs its own private labour which in turn is a huge saving for the shipping lines as they do not incur any DOCK LABOR LEVIES. Secondly the terminal's location is away from the congested city of Karachi resulting in a faster turnaround of the import and export cargoes.
QICT is closer to vital up-country markets, although at the same time just two hours away from the Karachi Export Processing Zone and the Landhi & Korangi Industrial Area; the Port Qasim Industrial Zone is also a scant 5km away.
INCREASED THROUGHPUT: In terms of traffic, QICT handled 163,000 TEUs in 2001, 226,000 TEUs in 2002 & 333,000 teus in 2003, 496,000 teus in 2004 and completed 550,000 TEUs in 2005.
QICT CUSTOMERS: As for its portfolio of clients, QICT has Maersk Sealand (MSL) as its effective launch customer, which had been prompted to move from Karachi Old Port since its vessels were being offered a guaranteed berthing window on arrival at Port Qasim.
It also had the option of upgrading its services through the use of mother vessels as required and was also able to benefit from lower all round marine costs, which are pitched some 15% below those of KPT and KICT.
The EPIC Consortium comprising P&O Nedlloyd, CP Ships (formerly Conthsip), Hamburg Sud, Safmarine and CMA/CGM were also early switchers, since their main line vessels needed the deeper draught available at QICT.
Another ex-KPT customer is the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (NSCSA), which made the move to QICT after it dropped out of the GALEX service and started its own direct service to the US East Coast using 250m long Ro-Ro vessels which could be handled more effectively at QICT as opposed to the Karachi Old Port.
Qasim International Container Terminal welcomed the first call of Mediterranean Shipping Company vessel MSC Pride to Port Qasim on 9th of May, 2002. With the increased volume that MSC gained by switching to QICT it also started its African Service from October 2002 at QICT which previously operated from KPT. Very recently in October 2005 MSC started its Falcon Service from QICT which mainly caters to the Far Eastern sector.
We firmly believe by choosing QICT over Karachi Port, MSC has consolidated their position of strength even further in the Pakistan market.
The Super Galex service comprising of CMA/CGM , Hanjin , LNL and Norasia started calling QICT from Aug'2002. This service mainly caters to the Far Eastern Sector. This service was previously working out of KICT. Thus QICT has been able to break the paradym that Far Eastern Service do not call QICT.
The SAX Service comprising of PONL and NYK called QICT on 14.12.2003.This is the second Far East carrier to start its service from QICT. This service was previously operating from KPT. This service has now split up and each are operating separately from QICT.
On 3rd January'2004 the CMS Service comprising of OOCL/WANHAI started calling QICT and with this inclusion QICT is fast becoming dominant in the Far Eastern Sector.
The MIX Service comprising of UASC and Hanjin/Senator Lines started its service from 1st April ,2004
On the 19th of June OOCL has launched its own service called AMS (Asia Middle East Service) from QICT.
The latest inclusion to the above list of shipping lines and their services is PGX Service started by Samudera which is basically a feeder service between the Gulf and QICT. The first call of this service was on 22.03.2006.
QICT FEATURES QICT occupies berths 5, 6 and 7 at Port Qasim, encompassing a total area of 240,000m2. The quay wall is 600m long and the 11m draught is sufficient to allow ships of up to 60,000dwt to dock alongside.
The yard offers 216 own plugs for reefer boxes and 251 plugs with Gensets with a maximum holding capacity of 12,000 TEU. 7 Quay cranes and 16 RTGs running on fixed strips and 6 reach-stackers, with a variety of forklifts available for empty box handling mostly undertake front line yard and vessel handling operations. The whole operation is managed by a computer system by Navis incorporating a radio-data link between the yard vehicles and the planning center.
QICT also provides a number of very important intermodal and rail services to inland dry ports at Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Multan and Faisalabad. The rail terminal has its own stacking area adjacent to the rail sidings, with direct access to the terminal. Delivery of containers by trucks at the terminal also takes place round the clock.
COMMITMENT OF P&O PORTS TOWARDS SUCCESS OF QICT QICT has been able to gain full confidence of P&O Ports UK who invested $28 million in brand new equipment for which we received 5 brand new RTGs in November 2002 and 3 brand new post-Panamax Gantry Cranes in February 2003, and with the increase in throughput in 2004 they have invested further USD 20 million by virtue of which QICT has received 5 new RTGs in January'2005 and 2 new Post Panamax Quay cranes and 2 RTGs arrived during the 2nd quarter 2005 in addition to civil works undertaken which includes a brand new 5 storey State of the Art Operations Centre completed in Spetember'2005, reclamation of 40,000sq.m land and new systems including Radio Data Terminals already in use and enhancement of NAVIS computer systems is also being undertaken.
QICT is to receive 1 new Quay crane and 5 new RTGs by 3rd quarter of 2006.
QICT has also accepted the option of building a 2nd container terminal at Port Qasim and we envisage that by 2009 when both the terminals are operating side by side our handling capacity would be enhanced to 1.6 million teus.
QICT WHICH ALREADY IS AN ISO 9001: 2000 & 14001:1996 certified organisation for both Quality and Environmental Management Systems would also be OHSAS 18001:1999 which is the highest level in Occupational Health & Safety shortly.
QICT is also certified as ISPS Compliant from 1st July,2004 and is truly the "Port of the Future" for Pakistan and a vital institution assisting in the growth of the Nation's prosperity.