Key port information can also be found at: Maritime Database website information on Port of Gwadar

Port Overview

Currently, Pakistan has two operational international deep-sea ports: Karachi Port and Port Qasim. During the coming years, their capacity expansion programs are unlikely to keep pace with the expected growth in demand, resulting in a need for a third port to fill the gap. In particular, Karachi Port has significant limitations mainly due to its location within the populous Karachi city and will not be able to keep up with the ever growing demand in the coming decades.

In the case of Port Qasim, although having substantial space for expansion, its pace of development is hampered by its up-stream location, which is more than 40 km from the open sea, resulting in long turnaround time for incoming ships. This is not an issue for cargoes that are linked to industries located near the port, but it has cost implications for cargoes that have origins and destinations elsewhere.

Against this background, it was deemed timely to construct and inaugurate a third deep-sea port for Pakistan so as to ensure that national development is not hampered by a lack of national port capacity in the future. Given the expected rapid growth in demand for port capacity, it is likewise important to continue expanding the capacity of Gwadar port over the coming decades. In 2007, the Gwadar Port was inaugurated and started functioning. It is situated on the shores of the Arabian Sea in the city of Gwadar, located in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan. The port is located roughly 620 km from Pakistan's largest city and economic hub, Karachi, and is approximately 120 km from the Iranian border. It is administratively managed by the Gwadar Port Authority, however, operationally it has been handed over to a Chinese company, China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC).
The Gwadar Port, currently has three 200 Meter long conventional berths with a turning basin of 45 m diameter and a 4.5 KM approach channel that is dragged to 12.5 meters. The port also has all necessary handling equipment including tug boats, pilot boats survey vessels, etc. 

Expansion under CPEC

Under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor plan, COPHC will expand Gwadar Port with the construction of nine new multipurpose berths on 3.2 KM of seafront to the east of the existing multipurpose berths. COPHC will also build cargo terminals in 12 km of land to the north and northwest of the site along the shoreline of the Demi Zirr bay.
In addition, the Gwadar Port dredging project will deepen approach channels to a depth of 14 meters from the current 12.5 meter depth that will enable docking of larger ships with a deadweight tonnage of up to 70,000 at Gwadar Port. It is estimated that till date, the port has handled over one million ton of cargo which mainly include construction material for other CPEC projects. COPHC plans to eventually expand the port's capacity to up to 400 million tons of cargo per year. Long terms plans for Gwadar Port require a total of 100 berths to be developed by 2045.

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

For information on Port of Gwadar contacts details, please see the following link: 4.3 Pakistan Port and Waterways Company Contact List

Port Performance 

The Gwadar Port has been underutilized for commercial import and export since its development due to reasons such as distance from the market places of the country, security and services availability, etc. Gwadar Porthas so far only handled government Imports of Wheat Grain (2008) and Fertilizers (2008 -2014) while currently post-handover to COPHC, it’s only handling project cargo for its own infrastructure development and expansion projects.
During 2017, the Port has received 145 TEUs (20 feet containers - Project Cargo), and no general cargo vessel. Nonetheless, with the completion of few development project by 2019, the Port is expected to start functioning at its full capacity. A weekly feeder service to Jabel Ali of COSCO, shipping line, is also expected to start, however, for the time being no other shipping line except the Chinese and Arabs have expressed their interest.

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

Pilotage fees: Piloting service, unlike other ports in Pakistan, are provided by the terminal handling company i.e. Gwadar International Terminal Ltd. (GITL). The charges are 100 USD one way.

Tug services similarly, tugging services are also provided by the terminal at the rate of 970 USD, one way.

Mooring services: Currently, mooring services are made part of tugging services, however, in the future tariff may include separate rates.

Supply of fresh water: A desalination plant has been set-up at Gwadar Port to supply 100,000 gallons/day of drinking water to ships at Gwadar Port.

Laying up of Vessels

Formulation of rates for laid-up vessel is in progress.

Berthing Specifications

General Cargo Handling Berths

Container Facilities

General Cargo Handling Berths

Oil Handling Terminal

None

Multipurpose Terminal

One

Grain / Bulk Handling

Since the establishment of the Port, Gwadar Port has only handled 70,000 of Wheat Grain and around 500,000 tons of fertilizer.

Main Silo Terminal

None

Main storage terminal

3,000 SqM Covered Warehouse

Customs Guidance

For more information on customs in Pakistan, please see the following link:  1.3 Pakistan Customs Information