Over $2.2 million deal for tug due shortly: PQA set to discharge pilot boat tender

[Hyde]

Over $2.2 million deal for tug due shortly: PQA set to discharge pilot boat tender​

ISMAIL DILAWAR
KARACHI (July 14 2010): Port Qasim Authority is all set to discharge the tender it had invited afresh in March this year for chartering a pilot boat in search of more competitive rates due to 'high' cost of hiring. The country's second largest port operator is, however, soon likely to clinch a multimillion dollars deal with a UAE-based firm, M/s Global Marine Service (GMS), for the hiring of an ASD berthing tug.

According to sources, PQA's tender committee has recommended to the Board to reject the tender in view of the exorbitant rates of at least $7,390 per day offered by the only bidder, M/s Lamnalco. They said the committee had suggested inviting a fresh tender for chartering the pilot boat as the presently quoted rates were very high and equivalent to that of a tug.

The sources said the disqualification of M/s Smit Loire's craft on technical ground and non-offering of a pilot boat by the GMS had left PQA with the only option, namely M/s Lamnalco, which had sought the rates of its liking. The PQA Board, however, is likely to reject the offer in the light of technical committee's recommendations, they added.

It is interesting to note that at present under an extended contract PQA is paying at least 1,825 euros or $2,300 to Smit Loire for a pilot boat excluding fuel consumption. But, the sources said according to Lamnalco's rates quoted in the fresh tender the Authority, in case of awarding a contract, would have to pay around $3,500 to the Cypriot company.

Thanks to GMS's rational rates that, the sources viewed, had arranged for the proponents of a fresh tender in PQA Board to find a face-saving. As Smit and Lamnalco had, respectively, demanded $8,898 and $7,674 as daily hiring, fuel consumption and demobilisation charges excluding customs duties for the tug, they added. They said, subject to Board's approval, the PQA authorities would soon sign a contract with the lowest bidder, GMS, for the chartering of an ASD tug at the rate of $6,270 per day.

They said roughly saying a likely deal with the Sharjah-based firm would help the funds-starved PQA save over a thousand dollars per day. The sources said exorbitant rates for the pilot boat were, however, putting to question rationality of the decision of PQA authorities to tender afresh for the same. PQA had opted for tendering afresh for the floating craft instead of extending its 2008's agreement with Smit Loire. The sources said the Dutch company, in its recent bid, had come up with an offer of $8,898 for the services of its tug, KST 56.