Fauji Akbar Portia (FAP) on Friday docked the largest bulk cargo-laden vessel carrying 60,000 metric tons of Australian canola at its terminals at Port Qasim. MV RAPALLO - the largest vessel of bulk cargo, which has ever arrived at any seaports of the country, shipped 60,000 metric tons of Australian canola to Karachi.
"With a draft of 12.3 meters and an length over all (LOA) of 220 meters, the MV RAPALLO is a landmark for FAP Terminals as well as for the country as it is the largest bulk cargo vessel ever berthed at PQA," CEO of Fauji Akbar Portia Terminals, Ahmed Rana told newsmen at the harbour during a ceremony.
He said the FAP Terminals had so far handled wheat, rice, corn, fertilizer and canola cargo since it had become operational. He said the 60,000 metric tons of Australian canola had been imported by All Pakistan Solvent Extractors Association. He said the FAP directly discharged the grains and fertilizer in the secure silos and flat warehouses to ensure quicker turnaround time for the vessels, which was huge saving for their clients. "The FAP's average through vessel speed is 12,000 tones, which is almost double than the conventional cargo handling methods," said CEO FAP.
Director General Operations, Port Qasim Authority (PQA), Gul Aleem Khan, said the MV RAPALLO was the largest ship ever docked at the country's second largest harbour - Port Qasim in its 36 years of history. "This is the first time that a bulk carrier of 12.3 meters draft has arrived at PQA since the harbour started its operations," he told reporters.
He said before the FAP becoming operational, Port Qasim did not have the maximum depth of its harbour to berth such a huge ship of bulk cargo. "The PQA is eyeing to deepen the seaport's navigational channel with a view to utilise the FAP's draft of 14 meters, fully," he pointed out. Arrival of big draft vessels at the country's seaports is economically viable to help importers make savings, Gul Aleem Khan said.
Pakistan's first dry cargo terminals Fauji Akbar Portia had broken its own record by discharging 22,000 metric tons of canola oil seeds in a single day operation. The previous record was about 17,000 metric tons of discharge per day at the same terminal.
FAP Terminal has been built on a 9 hectare of land reclaimed from the sea level and features 300 meters long dedicated jetty that can accommodate ships with a draft of 12.8 meters, 300 meters of length and 43 meters beam. FAP Terminal is capable of catering Panamax size vessels up to 80,000 DWT. The terminal can handle 4.1 million metric tons of dry cargo and also provides discharge, bagging stations and storage facilities to exporters and importers at its facility.