KPT running with just 15 pilots

KARACHI - The Karachi Port Trust (KPT), which has 30 berths and day and night shipping activities is running with just 15 pilots.
The marine experts suggest that KPT should at least hire 50 fresh pilots before going to Deep Water Container Terminal, besides providing them with Simulator training, which is a must for ship manoeuvring at the said terminal.
'It is amazing that a port which has 30 berths and day and night shipping activities is running with just 15 pilots, as 6 ships are accommodated in one tide which requires at least 12 pilots to complete such process, a maritime expert said.
The Port Trust has re-inducted the retired pilots in its Operational Conservancy Department, aged between 62 to 65 years and who lack professional skills.
According to sources, the KPT has only 15 pilots, among them four pilots are under-training, six have been re-inducted and only five are regular.
They further said that the re-induction of old retired pilots instead of the young and skilful professional pilots would surely hamper the smooth port operations.
Only those pilots should be hired by KPT who have internationally approved marine masters degree preferably from Pakistan, Singapore, England, and Australia, the sources said.
Those pilots who possess fake Certificate of Master Mariner from Panama, Liberia, Somalia etc should not be hired, they maintained.
It is pertinent to mention that KPT is currently working on Pakistan Deep Water Container Port to accommodate new generation of Container ships. This involves the development of deep draught berths, and the berths shall be built at 18 m depth, with 3.75 km of quay wall. The project is to be carried out in phases and on public private partnership.