Abu Dhabi-headquartered AD Ports Group has awarded a contract to Dutch dredging and marine contractor Van Oord to carry out expansion works at its Karachi terminals in Pakistan.
The project, managed by AD Ports’ global ports operating arm Noatum Ports, will focus on deepening berths and navigational channels at the Karachi Gateway Terminal. The dredging will increase berth length capacity from 305 metres to 350 metres, while vessel draft will be enhanced from 13 metres to 15.5 metres, enabling the terminal to accommodate larger ships.
Upon completion, the container terminal’s annual throughput is expected to grow from 750,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 1 million TEUs. In addition, Van Oord’s dredging work will significantly boost bulk handling capacity, doubling the size of vessels the terminal can serve from 60,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) to 120,000 DWT.
AD Ports said the expansion will strengthen Karachi’s role as a strategic maritime hub for the region and support Pakistan’s growing trade flows. The investment is part of AD Ports Group’s wider commitment to enhancing port infrastructure in South Asia, driving efficiencies, and supporting economic growth.