Gwadar Port dredging

Maintenance dredging of the navigational channel of Gwadar Port is estimated to cost $ 18 million incorporating maintenance dredging of navigational channel, basin and berthing area extending over 4.70 km . The designed draft of the turning basin and berths is 13.8 m while the outer navigational channel’s designed draft is 14.5 m.

Draft

The navigational channel original design permits  all weather  navigation of ships of 50,000 DWT . The designed draft will allow deeper draft vessels to enter and come alongside at berth and even at low tide deep draft ships will have sufficient clearance from the sea bed.

Rival Transhipment Ports

Courtesy Research Gate

The enhanced use of Gwadar Port as a transhipment hub  , being strategically situated on busy shipping lanes , will weigh heavily on regional Middle Eastern ports as any ship calling at Gwadar Port will mean one ship less , lesser cargoes and lowered revenues for other ports . The huge capital and infrastructure investment made on ports , container terminals and logistic chain in countries like UAE may be  in jeopardy. Once port revenues diminish estate prices tumble and the next casualty is tourism revenue. The maritime world recognises no monopolies and is driven by commercial convenience.