MARITIME NEWS DIGEST 06 06 (16-31 March 2018) A copy of this issue ¡s available on NCMPR web site. http:I/ncmpr. bahria .edu.pk Disclaimer Statement: All the information in this Maritime News Digest is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. This News Digest indicates links to other internet sites. Such links are provided as an information service for the readers of Maritime News Digest. NCMPR gives not warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or the completeness of the information and materials contained in the source publications or websites. Compiled by National Centre for Maritime Policy Research (NCMPR), Bahria University Karachi Campus13 National Stadium Road Karachi, Pakistan. Sub Editor: Email: [email protected] Syed Ghulam Raza strong bilateral naval association in diverse realms between From Editor’s Desk PN and Kuwait Naval Forces. Brigadier General Abdullah also lauded the role and commitment of PN for initiating The shipbuilding is a crucial industry that not only sustained and credible efforts to maintain regional serves as the backbone for the development of global maritime peace. Meanwhile, Admiral Mahmood also met shipping but also greatly contributes to the economic Defence Minister Ghulam Dastgir, ambassador of Pakistan outcomes of the global maritime sector. In Pakistan, to Kuwait and ex-Pakistani servicemen. shipbuilding industry, though much neglected in 1980’s and 90’s, has a promising potential to play its ExxonMobil Partners With Pakistan for LNG role in the uplift of maritime economy of the country. Ter minal Apart from enhancing the capacity of existing KS & EW, building new shipyards along Pakistan's coasts, 19th March, 2018 would be vital source for n ational economic Source: The Financial Tribune development and poverty alleviation. ExxonMobil is working with a group of Pakistan's large China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a businesses on a proposal to build and supply the country's windfall opportunity for maritime sector, has also third import terminal for liquefied natural gas, the resulted in the growth prospects for shipbuilding country's minister for maritime affairs said. "Exxo n has industry in the country. The approval of plan for the partnered with Pakistani consortium Energas to develop establishment of a new shipyard at Gwadar is the import terminal," Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo also said by considered a significant step in that direction. The phone on Friday, without providing further details, World development of shipyard with capacity of building very Oil reported. large and ultra large crude carriers will not only strengthen the national shipbuilding industry but will According to a presentation the companies made to the also offer much needed employment opportunities to country's regulators on Thursday, a copy of which was the people of Baluchistan particularly those from Coastal Are as. obtained by Bloomberg, the group plans to start building a $150 million offshor e term inal at Port Qasim near Karachi in May, pending government approvals. Exxon and Qatar Rear Admiral (Retd) Mukhtar Khan HI(M) would supply L NG to the terminal, which is expected to be Director General IMA completed by the end of 2 019, according to the presentation. Naval Chiefs of Pakistan, Kuwait Agree to Enhance The terminal will have throughput capacity of 750 Defence Cooperati on million cubic feet of gas, or about 5.6 million tons a year th of LNG, according to the presentation. Exxon and Energas 19 March 2 018 Sourc: Pakistan Today already have customers for about 300 mcf/d, including power plants, it said. Energas is a consortium of large It has been agreed upon during a meeting in Kuwait Pakistani businesses looking to secure long-term gas between the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Zafar supply on preferential terms, including Yunus Brothers Mahmood and Kuwait Naval Forces Commander Brigadier Group, which owns Lucky Cement Ltd. and Sapphire Group. General Khaled Abdullah that Kuwait and Pakistan will increase mut ual cooperation in the defence sector. 19 Containers Fall into Sea as Ships Collide at The meeting was also attended by Kuwait Coast Guard Karachi port Commander Commodore Sheikh Mubarak Ali Yousuf Al- Sabah. During the meeting with Brigadier General 20th March 2018 Abdullah, Admiral Abbasi discussed matters of mutual Source: The Dawn interest and bilateral naval collaboration. Both the dignitaries also discussed avenues to enhance bilateral A vessel carrying containers collided with another when cooperation between both the navies in the field of it was being given the alongside berth at South Asia training, provision of technical manpower and expertise. Pakistan Terminals (SAPT), Keamari, ports and shipping sources said. The vessel ‗Tolten' belonging to Hapag Lloyd The Kuwaiti commander acknowledged the role played carrying transit-containers collided with the other by Pakistan Navy (PN) in providing training to Kuwaiti stationary vessel in the process of being given the alongside Naval Forces. He emphasised the significance of close and SAPT berth No 4, resulting in damage to the berth and the professionalism of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency ship. in discharging its national duty despite numerous challenges, assured the agency of complete support. The The incident took place between 2.30pm and 3pm when committee headed by Shaikh Rohale Asghar, which visited the ship was being mastered by a Karachi Port Trust (KPT) the PMSA headquarters, Karachi, acknowledged that the pilot for giving the alongside berth. As a result of the current challenges required strengthening of Pakistan's incident, around 19 containers on board the ship fell into maritime sector and the need for providing safe and the sea. As per international practice, a ship moving in or congenial maritime environment. out of a port area has to be handled and mastered by a pilot According to spokesperson of the Pakistan Navy, the of the port till the time the ship is either safely berthed or sailed out. committee also assured the PMSA of their all out support in its endeavours and development programmes to enable the agency to adequately play its part to protect Pakistan's In this case also the KPT pilot was handling the maritime and economic interests. incoming vessel for berthing but unfortunately due to some human error or weather conditions the ship collided with Earlier, upon arrival at the PMSA headquarters, the PMSA the other vessel which was ready to sail out after loading its Director-General Rear Admiral Zaka ur Rehman welcomed cargo at berth No 3, the sources said. According to the the chairman and the members of the standing committee. sources, during the process of berthing pilots have to look The committee was given briefing about PMSA whic h is at weather conditions and winds but it seems that an the sole Maritime Law Enfo rcement Agency of Pakistan. unhappy combination of factors resulted in this incident. The committee was also briefed in detail about Under the international practice, the pilot remains on capabilities of the PMSA, along with a resume of major board till such time the ship becomes stationary and is search and rescue, anti-poaching, counter-narcotics and fastened to the berth. But in this case, according to the anti-smuggling operations undertaken in the recent past. sources, it seems that the pilot had failed to control the speed and the angle of the incoming vessel at the time of Later, the members of the National Assembly also berthing resulting in the collision. proceeded to sea onboard PMSA's recently-inducted MPV (Maritime Patrol Vessel), PMSS HINGOL, and witnessed It may be recalled that a few days ago KPT pilots went various operational activities and interacted with officers on strike demanding an increase in their salaries. They, and men onboard. however, resumed their work after reaching an understanding with the port authorities. But the sources Govt Approves Setting Up a New Shipyard at said that the issue of raise in salaries between the pilots Gwadar and the KPT authorities had not yet been resolved. It is being feared by port and shipping experts that in case any 22nd March 2018 of the containers sink in the approach channel it will Source: The Nation become hazardous for movement of ships till the time it is removed. The sources tol d Dawn that immediately after The government has approved a plan to set up a new the incident the containers started floating towards the shipyard at Gwadar with the capacity to build very large approach channel as per wind direction, adding that it was and ultra large crude carriers, sources told The Nation. dangerous for the movement of ships. Sources in the Defence Ministry said the plan approved by the federal cabinet would be implemented within three to Although the port authorities have initiated an inquiry five years. The plan also includes dry docking facilities for into the incident, the sources said that the KPT had no SOP repairing and maintenance of commercial ships including (standard operating procedure) for dealing with such oil and gas tankers. incidents and fixing of responsibility. Both the ships would have to stay at the port till the time the inquiry was completed and that might cause any amount of financial Pakistan Navy especially the incumbent Chief of Naval losses to the parties involved, the sources added. Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi from the very outset has been strongly supporting plans to set up Gwadar NA Body Extends Support to Maritime Agency shipyard. Pakistan Navy was of the view that since technical know-how and basic industrial infrastructure to 21st March 2018 support research and development (R&D) is available in Sourc: The Nati on the country, it was about time to integrate and optimise these facilities to further strengthen the process of self Members of the National Assembly's Standing reliance.