Port Qasim unfazed by Strait of Hormuz tension

Following military tensions between Iran and the US-Israel that effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, Pakistan’s second-largest port reported an active day of cargo and maritime operations on Wednesday.

According to a report released by the Marine Operations Department of the Port Qasim Authority (PQA), a total of 13 vessels were berthed across the port’s various terminals, with nine additional ships riding at outer anchorage awaiting their turn to dock.

Cargoes carrying gasoline, LPG, coal, canola seed, rice, and steel coils were offloaded simultaneously, keeping terminal workers and logistics crews engaged throughout the day.

The FOTCO terminal was the port’s busiest hub on Wednesday. Two tankers – MT Nave Atropos and MT Torm Damini were actively discharging motor gasoline at its berths. Petroleum product handling was also under way at other key terminals, with the MT Navigator Atlantic discharging LPG at the EVTL terminal and MT Navigator Aries handling a separate LPG consignment at the SSGC terminal.

Two significant coal shipments were being processed simultaneously. At the HFP&S-IV berth, the MV Nikos was unloading a 42,184 metric ton coal cargo, while at PIBT, the MV Eastern Venture was handling an even larger consignment of 59,564 metric tons.

At the Multi-Purpose Wharf, three vessels were occupied with general cargo discharge. The MV Eurosun was offloading rice while two steel coil carriers worked in parallel. Meanwhile, at the FAP terminal, the MV Grand Ocean was working through an enormous 65,200 metric ton cargo of canola seed, with 18,589 metric tons unloaded over the past day and 38,748 metric tons still remaining.

A queue of nine vessels waiting at the outer anchorage highlighted the high tempo of activity at Port Qasim. Among the waiting fleet were three large soybean seed carriers – MV Fortune Legacy, MV Katagalan Ace, and MV Cepheus Ocean, each carrying approximately 68,000 to 70,000 metric tons. The MV Ability is standing by to discharge 37,000 metric tons of yellow peas originating from Canada. The MT Spruce 2, also in the queue, is set to berth carrying 55,101 metric tons of gas oil from Oman, while the MV Al Amal is waiting with a mixed cargo of rice and cement for export.