A 60-metric-ton abnormal cargo unit was discharged at Karachi Port in January using twin 150-ton crawler cranes in a coordinated heavy-lift operation designed to speed direct delivery from quay to inland transport, underscoring a shift in Pakistan’s project cargo handling model.
The move, executed by Star Shipping Pakistan at Karachi Port Trust berth, followed the arrival of the carrier vessel Bohwa Amoy on January 12, 2026. The cargo unit, measuring more than 24 meters in length, was lifted in tandem configuration and placed directly onto a hydraulic trailer for onward inland transport.
The operation reflects a growing preference across South Asian breakbulk hubs for direct-to-trailer discharge, a method that reduces quay dwell time and limits double handling risk for oversized and high-value cargo linked to energy and infrastructure projects.
Tandem lift planning reduces berth time
Handling cargo exceeding 24 meters presents operational challenges, particularly at multipurpose terminals balancing container traffic with conventional and project freight.
Port planners said crane positioning, lift radius calculations, and safety coordination were central to the Karachi move. By pre-assembling the twin crawler cranes at the nominated berth before vessel arrival, the operator minimized delays tied to equipment mobilization and berth congestion.
Industry engineers note that staging heavy-lift assets in advance can cut discharge windows by several hours when synchronized with marine services, customs clearance, and port authority scheduling.
The tandem crane configuration distributed the cargo’s weight across multiple lifting points. This method is commonly used for long or asymmetrical units where single-crane lifts would exceed safe load radii or compromise balance during hoisting.
Direct delivery streamlines cargo chain
Instead of shifting the unit to temporary storage, the cargo was transferred immediately onto a hydraulic trailer, allowing it to move directly into Pakistan’s inland transport network.
Project logistics specialists said the approach shortens the cargo chain by removing an intermediate handling step. Fewer moves reduce exposure to weather, lower the risk of handling damage, and eliminate storage charges that can accumulate during complex port stays.
For engineering, procurement, and construction contractors, time savings at the quay translate into tighter installation schedules at project sites, particularly for power generation and transmission infrastructure developments underway across Pakistan.
Representatives from Star Shipping Pakistan said cranes were maintained in assembled position at berth ahead of the vessel’s arrival specifically to avoid operational delays.
The company said the discharge was executed “efficiently and directly delivered on trailer as required,” citing coordination between vessel agents, port authorities, and heavy-lift engineers.
Safety certification and compliance focus
Heavy-lift planners involved in the move highlighted safety certification as a core requirement. All lifting machinery, rigging gear, and spreader systems were third-party certified before operations began, aligning with port authority and insurer compliance frameworks governing abnormal load handling.
Such certification is increasingly scrutinized as cargo values rise and insurers tighten underwriting conditions around oversized freight.
Port operations planners said synchronized discharge planning is becoming more critical as Karachi handles growing volumes of energy, industrial, and infrastructure cargo tied to regional development programs.
Regional model gaining traction
Pakistan’s gateway ports, led by Karachi, are seeing steady growth in breakbulk and heavy-lift volumes linked to power plants, grid expansion, and industrial manufacturing investment.
Direct-to-transport discharge mirrors handling models used in Gulf and Southeast Asian heavy-lift hubs, where limited quay space and project urgency have driven investment in mobile crane fleets and self-propelled trailer systems.
As infrastructure and energy investments expand across South Asia, demand for synchronized heavy-lift capabilities is expected to rise, particularly among operators able to combine engineered lift planning with integrated inland delivery.
Karachi Port authorities continue to coordinate with private logistics providers on berth allocation, lifting windows, and safety compliance frameworks as project cargo volumes and cargo dimensions increase.
