By Staff Reporter
KARACHI: Pakistan has launched its first standardised bunkering operations at Karachi Port, introducing regulated ship refuelling services that align the country’s main gateway with international maritime safety and environmental standards, Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Tuesday.
The move ends a decades-long gap in port services that previously forced commercial vessels to refuel at distant hubs such as Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates or Singapore, often adding days and significant cost to voyages.
Bunkering — the supply of marine fuels to ships — is now being conducted through a dedicated barge operated by Vitol, the Swiss-based energy trading giant, while Karachi-based refiner Cnergyico has begun producing very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) that meets global specifications.
Chaudhry described the service as a key step in the modernisation of Pakistan’s maritime infrastructure and an effort to make Karachi more competitive with regional bunkering centres. “This regulated bunkering facility will enable Karachi Port to attract more international shipping lines that require safe, reliable and efficient fuel supply,” the minister told reporters.
He said the absence of such services had been a longstanding handicap for the port. The new capability has taken on added urgency since India prohibited vessels that call at Pakistani ports from entering or leaving Indian ports, effectively requiring ships trading with India to bypass Karachi entirely.
Officials at Karachi Port Trust (KPT) said the availability of bunkering was expected to increase vessel traffic and generate additional revenue through higher port fees, marine services, ship repairs, provisioning and logistics activity.
Chaudhry said the initiative would also bring foreign-exchange earnings and raise Pakistan’s profile in global shipping by showing commitment to modern, environmentally compliant port management. “Compliance with international standards on fuel quality, safety protocols, documentation and transparency is non-negotiable if we want to build confidence among shipowners and global traders,” he said.
The minister said the first phase had been rolled out in partnership with one of the world’s largest energy trading companies and would expand as local refineries scale up production of IMO-compliant fuels, delivering direct benefits to the national treasury. KPT conducted a comprehensive review of global bunkering practices, drafted new standard operating procedures and consulted stakeholders before authorising commercial operations, officials said.
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
