Muhammad Faisal Kaleem

Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has lowered wet charges for shipments, making Karachi Port an ideal destination for international shipping lines compared with the three major neighboring ports – Mumbai, Mundra, and Chabahar, reports Wealth Pakistan.

According to a comparative study of six international ports compiled by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, these ports are using four different measurements for vessels, including 25,000 Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT), 45,000 GRT, 90,000 GRT, and 150,000 GRT. The study compares Karachi Port with six international ports, including Mumbai Port (India), Mundra (India), Jebel Ali Port (UAE), Bandar Abbas (Iran), Salalah (Oman), and Chabahar (Iran).  

Talking with Wealth Pakistan, a senior official of the maritime ministry said this cost advantage strengthens Pakistan’s competitiveness in regional trade, making it an attractive option for shipping lines seeking affordable and efficient port services. When compared with Mumbai, Mundra, and Chabahar ports, Karachi Port’s wet charges are significantly lower. These ports charge USD 6,781, USD 17,589, and USD 1,526, respectively, which are higher than the wet rates applied by the KPT.

For 25,000 GRT vessels, the KPT collects USD 26,100 for each shipment as wet charges. This fee includes USD 7,000 pilotage charges, US 9,100 port dues, USD 2,800 berth hire fee, and USD 7,200 tuggage fee. For 45,000 GRT, the KPT charges USD 43,740, including USD 12,600 pilotage fee, USD 17,640 port dues, USD 6,300 berth hire fee, and USD 7,200 tug-gage fee.

For 90,000 GRT, the KPT charges USD 78,750, including USD 25,200 pilotage fee, US 43,020 port dues, USD 12,150 berth hire fee, and USD 7,200 tuggage fee. In category 150,000 GRT shipments, the KPT charges USD 123,300, including USD 42,000 pilotage fee, USD 54,600 port dues, USD 19,500 berth hire fee, and USD 7,200 tuggage fee.

As against Karachi Port, Mumbai Port charges USD 28,975 from each vessel of 25,000 GRT, including USD 13,608 pilotage fee, USD 8,288 port dues, and USD 7,080 berth hire fee. For 45,000 GRT shipments, the port charges USD 50,521, including USD 22,859 pilotage fee, USD 14,918 port dues, and USD 12,744 berth hire fee.

Similarly, for 90,000 GRT and 150,000 GRT, the wet charges are USD 96,143 and USD 155,885, respectively.  The accumulated pilotage fee of these two sizes of shipments is USD 104,500 (40,820+63,680), port dues USD 79,560 (29,835+49,725), and birth hire fees USD 67,968 (25,488+42,480), respectively.

For 25,000 GRT at Mundra Port, the wet charges are USD 34,071, including USD 25,989 pilotage fee, USD 1,747 port dues, and USD 6,335 berth hire fee. For 45,000 GRT, the port’s wet charges remain USD 61,329, including USD 46,781 pilotage fee, USD 3,145 port dues, and USD 11,403 berth hire fee.

Similarly, for 90,000 GRT and 150,000 GRT, the wet charges are USD 122,657 and USD 204,429, respectively. In the 90,000 GRT category, USD 93,562 is charged as pilotage fee, USD 6,290 port dues, and USD 22,805 berth hire fee. In the 150,000 GRT category, USD 155,936 is charged as pilotage fee, USD 10,484 port dues, and USD 38,009 berth hire fee.

Chabahar has set wet charges of USD 45,266 for 45,000 GRT, including USD 8,622 pilotage fee, USD 19,035 port dues, USD 355 berth hire fee, and USD 17,253 tuggage fee. For 90,000, GRT, the Iranian port charges USD 90,533. This payment includes USD 17,244 as pilotage fee, US 38,070 port dues, USD 713 berth hire fee, and USD 34,506 tuggage fee

Chabahar fixes wet charges of USD 45,266 for 45,000 GRT, including USD 8,622 as pilotage fee, USD 19,035 port dues, USD 355 berth hire fee, and USD 17,253 tuggage fee. For 90,000 GRT, this Iranian port charges USD 90,533 as wet charges, including USD 17,244 pilotage fee, USD 38,070 port dues, USD 713 berth hire fee, and USD 34,506 tuggage fee.

Credit: INP-WealthPk