A critical fault has been discovered in one of the two recently acquired cargo ships by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC).
The shipping corporation purchased two cargo vessels namely Sargodha and Mardan at a cost of Rs. 8 billion last year.
As per the reports, the former’s oil pumping system has been found to be defective due to which it was unable to deliver the supply of crude oil to Port Qasim in Karachi as planned on Monday.
Subsequently, it underwent repairs for three days in the port’s outer channel and then sailed back to Port Qasim. Furthermore, PNSC will dry dock the second cargo vessel, Mardan, in October. Note here that dry-docking or simple maintenance in other countries costs millions of dollars.
Two other ships, Khairpur and Bolan, that had been acquired several years ago, were not sent for dry-docking. In this regard, an investigation will be initiated into the 14-year-old ships bought by PNSC on the advice of the Senate’s Standing Committee and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs.
Maritime Ministry officials stated that the probe will be conducted by Prime Minister’s (PM) Inquiry Committee.
September 22, 2022
PAKISTAN NATIONAL SHIPPING CORPORATION
PRESS RELEASE
PNSC REFUTES BASELESS ALLEGATIONS LEVELLED AGAINST IT
Apropos media release by various sections of the press on 21st and 22nd September 2022, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) refutes the false and baseless allegations.
The recently acquired Aframax tankers i.e. Mardan & Sargodha were inducted in PNSC’s fleet in August 2022, and are registered with internationally recognized classification society i.e. American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Sargodha is trading successfully to the satisfaction of its client and is currently at berth to discharge her 2nd cargo at PQA terminal. Moreover, Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has certified on 6th September 2022, that all machinery including pumping systems of the vessel are fit for service.
Dry-docking is a predefined, cyclical and mandatory activity, performed as per Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and for the renewal of the vessel’s classification certificates confirming the sea worthiness of the vessel. All seagoing vessels undergo periodic dry-docking irrespective of the date of induction into any fleet.
PNSC, being a strategic organization, considers publication of such baseless news as irresponsible, tarnishing the image of the national flag carrier (PNSC). PNSC reserves its right to initiate appropriate proceedings in this regard.