Proper regular night navigation in Port Qasim (PQ) looks a distant possibility during the next five years.
An official source, related to the shipping, commenting on the subject said the issue was included in the agenda of the 62nd meeting of Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Board of Directors, held early last month.
The members were informed that the work on night navigation was carried out in two phases. The Phase-I had run into dispute and was being investigated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB), but the Phase II had since been completed, it said.
The explanation made a funny reading, as how the completion of Phase-II be of any benefit to the users of the port when the Phase-I had not been yet completed, he questioned.
The meeting was further informed that the board's approval was obtained in its meeting held on January 15, 2000, and Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) was authorised to implement the project through the lowest bid received under intimation to the PQA board.
On the request of the QICT to provide night navigation or authorise them to develop that facility as per agreement, as the PQA did not have the expertise available for this specific work, which was to be done for first time in the country, they were asked to undertake this work in terms of relevant clause of the agreement.
Subsequently, the work was awarded by the QICT to the lowest bidder, China Harbour Engineering Company, at the cost of Rs 99.989 million. The work has been completed satisfactorily in accordance with specifications and scope of work at a cost of Rs 96.072 million.
The amount was being recovered by the QICT at source from payments payable to the PQA, the meeting was informed.
The board observed that since it had already approved Phase-II night navigation, there was no need to place it again before the board.
As regards, Phase-I of night navigation, the board authorised the PQA Chairman to start negotiations with the QICT and reach at final settlement for consideration of the board subject to approval of the NAB and the FIA.
The source said that to make the PQ operational for night navigation, it required a large fleet of operational crafts, pilot boats, tugs and survey craft, as the present equipment was not enough to handle the traffic, which might see a surge in coming years.
He said that in the absence of navigational aids, patrol boats, etc, the PQA was right now not in a position to provide proper security to the channel, which was about 35 kilometres long.
The PQA did not have the facility to entertain large size vessels, especially large panamax size vessels during night, he said.
He further said the present channel was different from the original channel, since no dredging works had been undertaken during the last several years, adding silt deposits had caused several bends making even daylight traffic difficult, what to talk of night navigation.
He suggested that dredging of channel should be undertaken at regular intervals to keep it smoothly operational.
Besides the FIA and the NAB investigations, the government audit had also raised the following queries:
-- Why work was entrusted to the QICT without obtaining approval from the Miniscom and why was it not done by the PQA.
-- Why offer of first lowest bidder was rejected when specific country of origin was not mentioned in the tender documents.
-- On what grounds the first lowest, ie Messrs. Fulbrite, was pre-qualified.
-- Why the QICT was not approached for cancellation of contract with Shirazee Trading, while it was not performing the work satisfactorily.
-- What action had been taken against the QICT and its contractor for missing items and unsatisfied work.
THE PQA HAD PROVIDED PARA-WISE REPLIES AS UNDER:
-- The works were awarded as per implementation agreement, which stands approved by the government of Pakistan. The PQA did not have requisite expertise for undertaking night navigation with besides lack of arrangements of funds at that time.
-- The bids were evaluated by Cullan Grummit, a reputed firm of Australia. Technical evaluation of bids revealed that the products, offered by Sheerazi Trading, are of better quality and mark.
-- Messrs. Fulbrite were re-qualified on the basis of their documentation indicating technical as well as financial input.
-- As cancellation of contract leads to litigation, which results in much and more delays, it was, therefore, not advised. It is a pertinent fact that after execution of this work, the PQA was being benefited as ability of the PQA channel had increased through this arrangement.
-- The PQA will reimburse to the QICT only for the quantum of work found satisfactorily carried out. The PQA had also not accepted the entire work and no payment have been made up to now.