ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Bulk Terminal Limited (PIBT) has refused to accord priority berthing to coal vessels, arguing that any deviation from the established “berthing-on-turn” system could disrupt coal supplies to other power plants connected to the national grid.

In a letter to the Secretary Maritime Affairs, PIBT Chief Executive Officer Sharique A Siddiqui said the terminal was strictly following the berthing-on-turn mechanism, which was also being monitored and implemented by Port Qasim Authority (PQA). The PIBT CEO referred to a letter submitted by M/s IMLAK on August 18, 2026, regarding the delayed berthing of a coal-laden vessel destined for the Jamshoro power plant.

According to PIBT, the vessel reached the outer anchorage area of Port Qasim on July 27, 2026, and tendered its Notice of Readiness (NOR) at 18:28 hours the same day.

However, when PQA made arrangements for the vessel’s berthing, the vessel developed a fault in its rudder. Consequently, PQA did not permit the vessel to enter the port channel due to safety considerations under its standard operating procedures.

The vessel subsequently carried out repairs and tendered its second NOR at 17:30 hours on August 25, 2026.

PIBT said that the vessel again failed to avail itself of the berthing opportunity when, upon being ordered by PQA to approach the entrance channel, it developed a fault in its anchor-heaving machinery and was unable to lift its anchor.

As a result, the vessel missed its turn and the next vessel awaiting its turn was berthed by PQA.

The coal vessel again undertook repairs to its anchor-heaving machinery and subsequently tendered a fresh, third NOR at 21:06 hours on August 31, 2026.

PIBT maintained that the vessel had consequently not been in a state of readiness for nearly one month, a fact which, according to the terminal, was not disclosed by IMLAK in its communication to the concerned power company.

The terminal further claimed that the power company had also not mentioned these circumstances and had instead attributed the delay in berthing primarily to port congestion and PIBT’s scheduled annual maintenance programme.

PIBT further noted that IMLAK had referred to the first cancellation of the vessel’s berthing opportunity because of the rudder problem but had omitted the second berthing opportunity, which the vessel allegedly failed to utilise because of the defect in its anchor-lifting mechanism.

On its planned maintenance, PIBT said all its clients had been informed several months in advance about the scheduled maintenance of its cargo-handling equipment.

The terminal said the annual maintenance activity had already been postponed twice to accommodate pressing coal-supply requirements of its clients.

“Now we have reached the point where any further delay in this planned activity is not possible for us, and in fact we have by now commenced the working,” the PIBT CEO said.

He added that the terminal’s engineering team would work round the clock to complete the maintenance within the stipulated timeframe and resume normal cargo-handling operations.

Despite the maintenance activity, PIBT said it had arranged to continue cargo discharge operations from vessels already berthed at the terminal by using the ships’ own cranes.

According to the CEO, this arrangement demonstrated the terminal’s recognition of the “extreme national importance” of maintaining uninterrupted supplies of coal, which is a vital fuel for the power sector.

On the request for “priority berthing”, PIBT categorically stated that such a request could not be accommodated.

The CEO said granting priority to one vessel would disrupt the carefully planned and strictly followed “berthing-on-turn” system.

The system, he maintained, was not only being followed by PIBT but was also monitored and executed by PQA.

PIBT further pointed out that most of its clients were power companies. According to the terminal, giving preference to one power plant over another could therefore create disruption for another generation facility that was also supplying electricity to the national grid.

The terminal urged the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to take the factual position into account while assessing the issue and the operational constraints faced by PIBT.

The CEO said strict adherence to the berthing sequence was necessary, subject to vessels properly tendering their NORs and being ready to undertake berthing operations.—MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN