Facilitating the growth of Port Qasim

A country’s economic development is closely linked to its capacity to import and export commodities. Around half of Pakistan’s trade volume passes through Port Qasim. This is set to grow substantially over the next decade and, coupled with the increase in size of vessels likely to call at the port, Port Qasim Authority asked HR Wallingford to explore the feasibility of expanding the port’s navigation channel.

We completed a comprehensive technical feasibility study to assess the navigation and dredging requirements needed in order to both widen and deepen the existing navigation channel, and install an additional navigation channel to Port Qasim. We used our ship navigation simulators to test the feasibility of transiting larger ships along the complex approach to Port Qasim using a wider and deeper channel. 

The recommendations from this work were fed into an optimised channel design. We assessed the impact of the changed channel geometry on sediment infill rates using n using our hydrodynamic, metocean and sediment transport models, and provided cost estimates of the proposed dredging project for consideration by Port Qasim and the Federal Ministry of Maritime Affairs.

Port Qasim used the recommendations in our feasibility study in the procurement of dredging to deepen and widen the existing access channel, as well as to install an additional navigation channel. We continue to provide advice to Port Qasim during the procurement and construction phase of the project, and have provided in-country dredge management training to their project team.