The Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited (KS&EW Ltd.) is a major defence contractor and shipbuilding company situated in the West Wharf in Karachi, Sindh in Pakistan.
Planning to established the shipyard in Karachi began in 1947 as it was thought as essential for defense of the country.[4] In 1952, the Government of Pakistan reached out to Government of Germany for funding and loan feasibility, which both nation agreed upon.[4] In 1955, the Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited was established when Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) commissioned a project that was delivered to Karachi Port Trust (KPT) in 1957.[4]
Since 1955, the KSEW Ltd. remains under government sponsorship and is entirely owned by the Ministry of Defence Production.[5] It corporate leadership is approved as deputation by the Navy HQ of Pakistan Navy.[5] The KSEW Ltd. has attained product certification and qualification from the Turkey and United Kingdom's registry, but it usually follows British standards for quality of its products.[5]
The KSEW Ltd. is the only company in Pakistan that has ability and capability to build ships, and the primary builder of submarines since its establishment in 1955.[6]
Projects
Submarine construction
The KSEW Ltd. is the only company in the country that has ability and capability to build deep water submarines, owing major contributions from France in 1990s and later China.[4] In 1990s, France agreed upon exporting the technology of Agosta 90B class submarine, of which two submarines were built by the KSEW Ltd. under French supervision. The French DCNS mostly oversaw the program until 2006, and were refitted with air-independent propulsion technology in 2011.[7]
As of current, the KSEW Ltd. is currently building the Hangor-class submarines for the Pakistan Navy.[8][9][10]
17,000 Ton Fleet Tanker
A contract was signed on 22 January 2013 between the Ministry of Defence Production, Pakistan and STM, Turkey to construct a 17000 ton fleet tanker for the Pakistani Navy. The Kit of Material was provided by STM and the construction, outfitting took place at KS&EW. The construction of the vessel started on 27 November 2013 and it was launched on 19 August 2016. This is the largest warship built in Pakistan till date.
MILGEM Class Corvette (warship)
MILGEM Class Corvette will be the most technologically advanced surface platforms of the Pakistan Navy fleet. Keel Laying ceremony of third MILGEM class warship held. The warship will complete in 2024.[3]
Future Projects
The next submarine project will see KS&EW jointly involved with Chinese company CSOC (China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. Ltd.) in the design and construction of 8 submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP). These will be designed to Pakistani specifications and four will be built at a CSOC shipyard in China, while four will be constructed by KS&EW. It is believed that little upgrading of facilities is required because much of the current infrastructure meets the requirements. The preliminary negotiations were reported to be completed in March 2011. It was earlier believed that the project would involve China's Type-041 Yuan class submarine, which had been mentioned by Admiral Noman Bashir, Chief of Naval Staff, several times since 2009.[9][2]
MV Lalazar - A 13,300 DWT Cargo Vessel was built for National Shipping Corporation, Pakistan. Delivered on 20th Nov 1974.
MV Hetian - A 13,160 DWT Cargo Vessel was built for China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation, China, in 1978.
MV Islamabad - MV Islamabad is the largest general cargo and container ship built at KS&EW with 17,200 DWT. The ship is in service with Pakistan National Shipping Corporation.
You Ti 20 - A 17,000 TDW Bulk Carrier You Yi 20 was built in 1992 for China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation.
^ abAnsari, Usman (14 March 2011). "Pakistan in Deal To Buy Chinese Subs: Report". Defense News (www.defensenews.com). Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2021. ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Navy has reportedly negotiated a preliminary deal with China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. Ltd. (CSOC) to jointly design and build six air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarines, surprising analysts who had expected a deal based on existing Chinese designs.
