International shipping lines have increased freight rates for edible oil imports to Pakistan by $15 or 37.5 percent from $40 to $55 per ton ever since the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) has revised draft at its port.
In December 2007 the PQA had revised draft in its navigational channel at Marginal Wharf-I, where consignments of edible oil are handled from 8-metre to 9-metre, sources told Business Recorder on Sunday.
They said that due to draft revision at the concerned berths, Port Qasim was not able to accommodate the ships having more than 8-metre draft. Consequently, the vessels, particularly those of a deep draft and carrying huge consignments, have to wait at the outer anchorage from 10 to 12 days, sources claimed. They claimed that to lessen waiting time for the vessels they were first being referred to the Karachi port for lighterage and then being docked at the Port Qasim.
Owing to these problems the international shipping lines were either avoiding edible oil consignments destined for Pakistan or charging freight with an increase ranging from 10 to 15 dollars per ton, said the sources.
Meanwhile, when contacted an official from the PQA confirming revision of draft at MW-I said it is due to huge siltation caused by construction of the nearby Liquid Cargo Terminal at the port.
The PQA official, however, denied that large vessels were shipping edible oil to Pakistan claiming that traders were importing the food item in small ships of not more than 10-metre draft which could well be handled by the Authority at Marginal Wharf-II, which is adjacent to MW-I. He said it was a rare happening, once or twice a year, that the Port Qasim had to accommodate a big vessel of more than 10-metre draft. The PQA was busy in dredging at the said berths where the draft would be restored to 9.5-metre after monsoon, said the official.
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