DefinePK

Research Objective

To examine the effect of mega ship operations on the functioning of the South Asia Pakistan Terminal (SAPT) in Karachi port, specifically its capacity to manage the movement of import containers, and to identify weak areas for optimization.

Methodology

Descriptive analysis method was used to examine container terminal processes and evaluate container management procedures under diverse situations, differing in the magnitude of mega container vessels. Key performance indicators studied included ship turnaround time, berth occupancy percentage, ship waiting time at anchor, containers handled versus ship's carrying capacity, berthing constraints, and container dwell time.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD
    A["Data Collection 31 days of SAPT operations"] --> B["Descriptive Analysis of Terminal Processes"];
    B --> C["Evaluation of Container Management Procedures"];
    C --> D["Analysis of Key Performance Indicators"];
    D --> E["Identification of Weak Areas for Optimization"];
    E --> F["Formulation of Recommendations"];
    F --> G["Conclusion and Future Research Directions"];                    

Discussion

The study highlights that while SAPT has the infrastructure and equipment to handle mega vessels, its operational efficiency can be improved. Optimizing container management, potentially by relocating containers to nearby storage areas and allowing greater dwell time for outbound containers, can enhance performance. The increasing size of container ships necessitates continuous planning, managerial skills, optimal resource allocation, and improved container management to handle greater cargo volumes in limited time.

Key Findings

Mega container ships (MVs) are more effective than large container vessels (LVs) in terms of TEUs handled per visit, saving time and cost. SAPT's berth occupancy rate was low (38.7%) in the initial situation, indicating underutilization of assets. Mega vessels occasionally faced waiting times at anchorage due to operational constraints and limited berthing availability. Dwell time at SAPT was higher than the global average, reducing terminal storage capacity.

Conclusion

The study concludes that SAPT faces challenges in fully leveraging its capacity due to factors like low berth occupancy, berthing constraints for mega vessels, and high dwell times. However, with capital investment in infrastructure and efficient quay cranes, swift container handling for mega vessels can be achieved, leading to quicker ship turnaround times. Further development and optimization are crucial for SAPT to play a key role in enhanced transshipment and CPEC trade.

Fact Check

1. SAPT's designed annual capacity is 3.1 million TEUs when fully functional with all four berths operational.
2. In the collected 31 days of data, 11 mega vessels (MVs) handled 59.6% of the total TEUs, while 17 large vessels (LVs) handled 40.4%.
3. The world average dwell time for import containers is 5-7 days, while at SAPT, it was observed to be 6-7 days, an improvement from 9-11 days in 2018.

Mind Map