A cargo vessel run aground.
The Heng Tong 77, a cargo vessel en route from Shanghai to Istanbul, unexpectedly found itself stranded in Pakistani waters near Karachi after a broken anchor and a weakening engine left it unable to hold position. What followed was a complex salvage operation to dislodge the stranded ship from the Karachi beach.
Ayan Ship Breakers played a crucial role in the onshore and ground activities related to the salvage — work that proved instrumental to the wider effort. Various organisations and agencies, including the Pakistan Navy, the Karachi Port Trust, the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, the Pakistan Coast Guards and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, collaborated in a coordinated response to free the vessel.
Seamax Marine Services, a Pakistani salvage company, conducted the initial survey of the ship and worked alongside ASB to develop a salvage plan. The operation faced real obstacles throughout — unfavourable weather and rough seas made for a prolonged, complex process.
In the end, ASB's onshore expertise, working in step with the agencies above, was instrumental in successfully dislodging the Heng Tong 77 from the Karachi beach.
The response, in brief.
Heng Tong 77, cargo carrier
Shanghai → Istanbul
Broken anchor, weakening engine
Karachi coastline, Pakistan
Agencies involved.
Freeing a grounded cargo vessel from a populated coastline takes more than one organisation. Here's who worked the operation alongside ASB.
Pakistan Navy
Provided maritime coordination and support throughout the operation.
Karachi Port Trust
Coordinated port-side logistics and clearance around the stranded vessel.
Pakistan Maritime Security Agency
Oversaw maritime security around the salvage site.
Pakistan Coast Guards
Supported coastal monitoring and response coordination.
Ministry of Maritime Affairs
Provided overarching regulatory coordination for the response.
Seamax Marine Services
Conducted the initial survey and co-developed the salvage plan with ASB.
Facing a stranded vessel?
ASB's onshore team can support salvage and recovery operations along the Karachi coastline.