Karachi International Container Terminal

ARTICLE (January 26 2008): Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) is located west of the Indus Delta in the natural deep-water harbour of the century old Port of Karachi.

Subsequent to the signing of the concession agreement by the international project sponsors with Karachi Port Trust (KPT) in June 1996, KICT was formed as the Terminal Operating Company with the object of setting up a common user dedicated international container terminal at Karachi Port on the existing berths 28, 29 & 30, at West Wharf on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

KICT, the first and largest international container terminal operator at Karachi Port, commenced commercial operations in November 1998, and has since been "Pakistan's leading container terminal operator", both in terms of productivity and efficiency.

KICT is also the first container terminal operator in Pakistan to gain compliance with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code and receive ISO 9001:2000 certification. As a member of the Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) Group, KICT enjoys the support and expertise of the world's leading port investor, developer and operator to help transform KICT into a major container handling facility, capable of receiving the region's increasing container trade.

As an organisation that actively invests in the development of modern port infrastructure, HPH is committed to playing a significant role in the development of the economies and the expansion of international trade opportunities for the countries in which it operates. Today HPH, a subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL), operates in 46 ports spanning 23 countries. In 2006, the HPH Group handled 59.3 million TEU (twenty foot equivalent units).

KICT - TERMINAL OPERATOR OF CHOICE:

Located on the Arabian Sea, KICT is strategically positioned at the confluence of the world's major shipping routes providing international shipping connections to leading hub ports in Asia, Middle East, Europe and North America. Additionally, it provides excellent rail and road connections to Pakistan's major up-country industrial and manufacturing zones.

As Pakistan's shipment of containerised cargo consistently grows apace with the market economy, it is matched by KICT's ability to handle increasing numbers of containers. In 2006 KICT recorded a container volume growth of 19% to 565,000-TEU from the previous year, representing over 50% of Karachi Port's total container throughput and a 55% increase in EBIT due mainly to the higher throughput growth, comprehensive array of end user service offerings, improved productivity levels, minimised vessel turnaround times and deployment of leading technologies and terminal equipment.

KICT's close proximity to Pakistan's banking & financial sector, ease of access, a dense network of services, 24/7 operations ensured to the highest security, safety and environmental protection standards, and a pool of managerial talent with international experience further augments KICT's strategic role as the key conduit for international trade with a rapidly-changing, knowledge-based world.

SHIIPPING LINES OPERATING AT KICT: Shipping lines operating at KICT serve ports around the world with the services spanning the globe. These include APL, COSCO, MOL, Wan Hai Lines, Yang Ming Line, Evergreen, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Samudera Shipping Line Ltd, NYK, Maersk Line, OOCL, Hanjin Shipping, CNC Line, Shreyas Shipping Ltd, Sea Consortium and many other Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) operators.

KICT FACILITIES: KICT occupies a cumulative area of 26 hectares and comprises three berths of which one is under development with a total quay wall length of 963 metres and current depth alongside of 11 metres. In addition to building existing container yard, KICT also constructed and enhanced supporting infrastructure, to include the expansion of in and out gatehouse lanes, in-house engineering department, marine operations and services buildings. KICT is also equipped with a temperature-controlled reefer facility offering 212 plugs for the handling of refrigerated containers.

The terminal is currently equipped with 4 ship-to-shore (STS) gantry cranes and two mobile harbour cranes (MHC). In supporting quayside operations, the container yard has a total of 23 rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGC) with a stacking arrangement of up to 'one-over-six'. In addition, KICT is outfitted with modern container handling equipment including terminal tractors, forklifts; chassis, reach stackers and empty handlers.

KICT PHASE-III DEVELOPMENT: With huge foreign direct investments, KICT has so far been expanded in two phases with the Phase-III development currently underway. Phase-III involves deepening the alongside depth to 14 metres, enhancing handling capacity by redeveloping acquired additional land area and berths (nos 26 & 27) adjacent to current facility and deploying additional quayside and container yard equipment.

When Phase-III is completed in Mid 2008, KICT will operate a total of seven ship-to- shore (STS) gantries, two mobile harbour cranes, 23 RTGCs, eight reach stackers, eight empty container handlers, 53 terminal tractors, six forklifts and radio data terminals (RDTs) on all terminal equipment. Phase-III development of KICT has been initiated in collaboration with Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to build the infrastructure needed to meet the growing cargo handling needs of Karachi Port.

APPLICATION OF LEADING TECNOLOGIES AT KICT:

At the heart KICT's operations resides the modern terminal operating system, designed by Navis Corp. Database software - EXPRESS interfaces with the graphic vessel and yard software - SPARCS. Real-time communications are maintained through the use of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), fibre optic links and Radio Data Terminal (RDT) dispatches. KICT has an interactive website www.kictl.com, which provides online information pertaining to vessel schedules and container status.

KICT - FIRST TERMINAL TO IMPLEMENT PACCS:

Today's global economy requires simplified, consistent and reliable Customs procedures, so that the growing volume of goods destined for overseas markets can be traded in a cost-effective manner, without undue delay.

KICT has the unique distinction for being the first container terminal operator in Pakistan to implement Pakistan Automated Customs Clearance System (PACCS), an automated risk assessment customs clearance process at KICT in collaboration with Pakistan Customs under Customs Administrative Reforms (CARE). This one-stop online operation at KICT, offers a comprehensive solution to the logistics needs of our customers.

It accelerates the flow of information with high system reliability and adopts a wide range of risk management techniques that enable Pakistan Customs to detect high-risk cargo without impeding the free flow of legitimate trade. This pre-clearance system significantly reduces waiting times and the need for paper-based documentation. On-site Customs offices ensure the swift processing of containers and vessels, to keep down-time to a bare minimum.

KICT - A PROMISING FUTURE:

As a member of the Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) Group, KICT believes that the implementation of advanced technology along with investments in human capital are the surest ways forward to improving terminal efficiency. It is this belief that has gained KICT the title of "Pakistan's leading container terminal operator" and has provided local industry with a strong channel to world markets. KICT is firmly committed to facilitating the growth of Pakistan's economy, as well as supporting the country to develop into a major hub for trade and transport in Asia.


Copyright Business Recorder, 2008