According to Karachi Port Trust (KPT), MMM Kingston had arrived to load the cargo in the afternoon on Monday. The marine tanker was loading liquid cargo for AL Rahim Trading Company.
The KPT's oil terminal facility has been constructed at a cost of Rs 1.319 billion in the lower harbour, capable of accommodating large oil tankers up to 75,000 dead-weight tonnage (dwt). The KPT had awarded the construction work to Chinese based company, China Harbour Engineering Company-Pemcon (JV). The new terminal has replaced old oil pier OP-II which was constructed in 1966 and was capable of handling tankers up to 35,000 dead-weight tonnage (dwt) and maximum capacity of 3.5 million tons per annum.
The old facility had completed its working life and a new modern oil pier was planned to handle future traffic demands of modern fleet. The facility is being upgraded to handle tankers up to 75,000 dwt and can handle 8 million tons per annum capacity with a maximum draught of 14.3 metres. The new oil terminal can accommodate the ships of up to 90,000 dwt load size.
The new terminal is equipped with all required modern liquid cargo handling facilities including loading arms, adequate piping system and manifolds-electrically/manually operated gate valves for handling all types of liquid cargoes, fire fighting system as per international standards, explosion proof lighting and other accessories. The project has handling capacity of almost all types of assorted liquid cargo which includes furnace oils, kerosene, naphtha, lubricants, edible oils tallow, molasses, alcohol, liquid chemicals, etc.
The terminal would handle liquid cargo round-the-clock. Another provision has also been kept for berthing smaller tankers of 16,500 dwt to 35,000 dwt, as and when such tankers visit the port with small parcel loads.