The oil vessel MT. Ardmore, which was carrying imported petrol, was berthed on May 10 at the Fauji Oil Terminal and Distribution Company (FOTCO) using night navigation protocols.
Pakistan has successfully resumed night vessel navigation with fully loaded petroleum products after a 28-year hiatus. The oil vessel MT. Ardmore, which was carrying imported petrol, was berthed on May 10 at the Fauji Oil Terminal and Distribution Company (FOTCO) using night navigation protocols.
In a press release, the company claimed that this represented a significant change in how Pakistan manages its oil imports. The statement read, “This marks the successful start of fully operational night navigation for petroleum products vessels calling at PQA.”
The capacity of the port and FOTCOs to handle petroleum vessels will increase through this initiative by up to 30%, which translates into a handling capacity of 18 vessels per month. This will alleviate port congestion and reduce the significant demurrage costs faced by importers during peak seasons.
The statement stated that “efficient functioning of port infrastructures across the country is warranted by the growing demand for petroleum products combined with growing reliance on imports.”
The efficient operation of the port and terminal is essential for the nation’s energy security because FOTCO and PQA handle over 70% of the imported finished POL products.
By rationalising berthing arrangements, vessel performance, and the use of cross-country pipelines, it will be possible to supply consumers with petroleum in a way that is efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable over the long term.
FOTCO is a joint venture between the Fauji Foundation and Infraavest Ltd. of Hong Kong, owned and run by Port Qasim. It was built for US$100 million and has handled more than 172 million tonnes of oil since 1995.
It is an all-weather jetty equipped to handle ships weighing between 25,000 and 75,000 DWT. It is ISO certified and has a turn-around time of 19 hours, making it the only terminal in Pakistan equipped with the most modern Automated Jetty Monitoring System.