Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) will save almost four million dollars on the import of iron ore from India. The tender for the transportation of more than 1.6 million tonnes of iron ore was held at Pakistan Steel Mills on June 13 in which Emirates Trading, a Dubai-based company, was declared the lowest bidder for major part of the cargo, ie 1.2 million tonnes imports from India.
They had offered 10.47 dollars per metric tonne (PMT) for the transportation of 1.2 million tonnes iron ore from Goa (India) and 14.47 dollars per tonne from Chennai (India).
Further, they would transport 0.2 million tonnes of iron ore from Bandar Abbas (Iran) at 10.66 dollars per tonne. Another company, Shahdab (Pvt) Limited''s, tender for the transportation of 0.25 million tonnes of iron ore from Dampier, (Australia) was also accepted. They had offered 20.07 dollars per tonne.
Pakistan Steel Mills would be saving four million dollars because bulk of the iron ore will be transported from Goa at 10.47 dollars per tonne as compared to 14.64 dollars per tonne paid last year.
The transportation of PSM cargo, according to the terms and conditions of the contract must be undertaken on Single Deck Bulk Carrier (SIDK) of less than 20 years of age. This clause has been added to give safe logistics to PSM and also assist Port Qasim Authority (PQA) to handle vessels efficiently in a 35-kilometre-long channel.
The present management of PSM has ensured that transparency of the tender is maintained and by adding the clause of 20 years maximum age for vessels have ensured security of their cargo as well as PQA.
It has been clearly mentioned in clause 28 relating to vessels'' description that the vessel is classed Lloyd''s 100 A1 or equivalent. The owners guarantee that the vessel has ITF certificate the details of which will be provided to the suppliers on nomination or when desired by the suppliers. Such classification will be maintained during the entire duration of the charter party. Should this classification not be maintained during the specified period, then the owners will be liable to any and all extra insurance penalties or assessments directly resulting from the fact that the vessels'' guaranteed classification has not been maintained.
Vessel should be self-trimming ore carrier/bulk carrier with engine/bridge unobstructed holds and hatches of minimum nine-metre breadth, and maximum 20 years old, excluding flags restricted by the government of Pakistan.
Vessel should be suitable in all respects to enter and leave from port and berth and load/discharge from the place of loading/discharging and vessel is guaranteed suitable for grab discharge. Vessel''s draft and dimensions should always be according to the PQA requirements, which should be notified from time to time.