KARACHI – A 7300-ton capacity Ship Lift and Transfer System was inaugurated on 10th August 2021, at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW). Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi was also present at the occasion.
The contract of the Ship Lift and Transfer System was signed under the auspices of the Ministry of Defense Production with the funding provided by the Planning Commission of Pakistan, as a PSDP project. The Ship Lift and Transfer System will provide docking and repair facilities to marine vessels up to 7300 tons. At one time it can accommodate 12 ships. The facility will contribute to the productivity of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works and will fulfill the ever-increasing demand of the shipping industry in the country. The works generated by enhancing the ship repair capacity will outflow to the public and private industrial sectors.
On the occasion, the honorable Chief Guest congratulated Karachi Shipyard, Pakistan Navy, and Ministry of Defense Production for setting up such a modern facility in Pakistan. He said that now Karachi Shipyard will stand taller in the regional maritime picture. The Prime Minister considered this facility a gift to the Pakistani nation, on its 75th Independence Day.
The PM emphasized that Government is committed to supporting local industry and is working on friendly policies to enhance shipping and fishing in our waters enhancing the business for Karachi Shipyard. He said that this facility is a true testament of the government’s efforts towards industrialization, capacity building, and self-reliance. He hoped that the drive towards higher grounds will continue in the future and the facility will be used to the fullest in the role envisaged by the planners and maximum benefits will be accrued from the investment for poverty alleviation. He hoped that SLTS will be remembered as the precursor of the revolution his government is endeavoring for in the maritime sector.
Earlier, MD KS&EW Rear Admiral Athar Saleem in his welcome address said that the project envisaged an increase in the existing ship repair capacity and efficiency of Karachi Shipyard.
He said that the system brings in a revolutionary concept against the existing docking technology, which can at the moment handle and repair only one ship at a time. Advantages of the new facility are that a ship can be recovered from sea, transferred to any of the repair stations and the Ship Lift can then be immediately available to lift/lower next ship, thereby increasing productivity exponentially according to the number of available parking spaces. This will significantly increase Karachi Shipyard’s revenue thereby high tax returns and more job opportunity for locals.
