Sarwaruddin, Ctg Bureau :
Chattogram Port, the century old pioneer seaport of the country emerged as one of the global standard seaport of the world within the 100 developed good container ports.
The Chattogram Port secures at 70th position among the good seaports of the world according to Lyods survey report . For the first time in the history of Chattogram Port overcomes the much talked ship congestion from last few months. Following the recently procured six gantry cranes from abroad at a cost of Tk.300 crores , the dynamism of the port activities enhanced by 30% than before from last week.
A port reliable sources said the long prevailing ship congestion in the port downed at zero level. For first time of the port’s history, no vessels were seen waiting in the outer berths for which Chattogram Port Authority expressed satisfaction. All vessels were seen in the inner berths either for unloading of bulk cargos and containers or loading cargos, containers simultaneously. A senior official of CPA told New Nation that through use of recently procured handling equipments, the dynamism of port activities gone up unexpectedly. Sources said as a result of deployment of new granty cranes , the import and export trade of the country gradually increased through the gateway of Bangladesh. Following the news published in different medias that Chattogram port will not be able to tackle the container handling situation after two or three years , CP authority takes pragmatic decisions to procure modern container and cargo ;handling equipments from abroad and hence the decisions of the port became fruitful, different port users sources said. A port consultant expressed that only new berths and yards are not the major reasons to tackle the severe ship and container congestions rather needs quick and first capable handling equipments. Lack of sufficient Key gantry cranes, rail mounted gantry cranes; CP could not overcomes the congestion situation since long. Mentionable that four old model gantry cranes installed in port during 2005 and not such equipments were procured for the last 13 years. Meanwhile Saif Power Tech , a port handler of CP had been using four old model gantry cranes. These old gantry cranes of Saif Power are now only using in Chattogram container terminal and other berths depends on ship’s crane for containing handling.
A port user sources said the existing handling facilities of CCT is not available in other berths lack of own gantry cranes. Though CP constructed NCT container terminal in 2008 at a cost of Tk.500 crores but lack of equipments , the expensive terminal was remained idle f or long time and some how running in dilly dally way .
A shipping expert on condition of anonymity told that the 5 lakh TEUS capacity NCT will be able to handle 15 lakh TEUs container annually if 10 latest gantry crane are installed in the NCT .
After 13 years since 2005, CP procured only six gantry cranes from China at a cost Tk.300 crores. As a result, the dynamism in container handling of the port set a new record of the history of CP. A reliable port sources said recently that 12 vessels were handled at inner port including 4 general cargo vessels at a time. In the evening a gearless vessel took berth at outer anchor and instantly given berthing immediately CPA sources said.
Chairman of CPA Rear Admiral Zulfikar Aziz told that no vessels are waiting in the outer berths and if any vessels reach outer anchorage, will be given berthing immediately. The congestion less CP will increase the image of the country as well as the Port in the list of good sea port. He also mentioned that CP will very shortly be enlisted with good sea port list in better positions.
Meanwhile, 16 percent ground breaking works of the proposed Patenga Container Terminal already completed in the meantime. This PCT is being constructed aimed at handling 4.45 lakh TEUS containers annually at a cost of 1,868 crores. Seven construction firms are working with 500 workers under the supervision of Bangladesh Army engineering core. In the meantime , Tk.357 crores handed over the Army core for the ground breaking and earth construction works, Project Director Mizanur Rahman Sarkar said. Project Director sources said in the proposed 600 meters long PCT, three 190 meters long container vessels and one 220 meters long oil tanker will be able to take berth at a time in container berth and Dolfin oil jetty respectively. The terminal is being built over 32 acres of land with 15 acres of back-up.
The storing capacity of the terminal finalized for 4,500 TEUs containers. Md. Mizanur Rahman Sarkar told the New Nation that PCT will be a global standard container terminal and hoped the construction work of the PCT will be ended within the target period. Port sources said , 29,03,996 TEUs containers were handled in 2018 which was 26,67,000 in 2017 A reliable sources said if this trend of container handling continues, the CP will be able to handle 35 lakh TEUs containers by 2022 . It is also hoped that after completion of proposed Bay Terminal at the estuary of Bay of Bengal, more 10 lakh TEUs containers may be handled than the existing handling capacity, sources added.
Chattogram Port, the century old pioneer seaport of the country emerged as one of the global standard seaport of the world within the 100 developed good container ports.
The Chattogram Port secures at 70th position among the good seaports of the world according to Lyods survey report . For the first time in the history of Chattogram Port overcomes the much talked ship congestion from last few months. Following the recently procured six gantry cranes from abroad at a cost of Tk.300 crores , the dynamism of the port activities enhanced by 30% than before from last week.
A port reliable sources said the long prevailing ship congestion in the port downed at zero level. For first time of the port’s history, no vessels were seen waiting in the outer berths for which Chattogram Port Authority expressed satisfaction. All vessels were seen in the inner berths either for unloading of bulk cargos and containers or loading cargos, containers simultaneously. A senior official of CPA told New Nation that through use of recently procured handling equipments, the dynamism of port activities gone up unexpectedly. Sources said as a result of deployment of new granty cranes , the import and export trade of the country gradually increased through the gateway of Bangladesh. Following the news published in different medias that Chattogram port will not be able to tackle the container handling situation after two or three years , CP authority takes pragmatic decisions to procure modern container and cargo ;handling equipments from abroad and hence the decisions of the port became fruitful, different port users sources said. A port consultant expressed that only new berths and yards are not the major reasons to tackle the severe ship and container congestions rather needs quick and first capable handling equipments. Lack of sufficient Key gantry cranes, rail mounted gantry cranes; CP could not overcomes the congestion situation since long. Mentionable that four old model gantry cranes installed in port during 2005 and not such equipments were procured for the last 13 years. Meanwhile Saif Power Tech , a port handler of CP had been using four old model gantry cranes. These old gantry cranes of Saif Power are now only using in Chattogram container terminal and other berths depends on ship’s crane for containing handling.
A port user sources said the existing handling facilities of CCT is not available in other berths lack of own gantry cranes. Though CP constructed NCT container terminal in 2008 at a cost of Tk.500 crores but lack of equipments , the expensive terminal was remained idle f or long time and some how running in dilly dally way .
A shipping expert on condition of anonymity told that the 5 lakh TEUS capacity NCT will be able to handle 15 lakh TEUs container annually if 10 latest gantry crane are installed in the NCT .
After 13 years since 2005, CP procured only six gantry cranes from China at a cost Tk.300 crores. As a result, the dynamism in container handling of the port set a new record of the history of CP. A reliable port sources said recently that 12 vessels were handled at inner port including 4 general cargo vessels at a time. In the evening a gearless vessel took berth at outer anchor and instantly given berthing immediately CPA sources said.
Chairman of CPA Rear Admiral Zulfikar Aziz told that no vessels are waiting in the outer berths and if any vessels reach outer anchorage, will be given berthing immediately. The congestion less CP will increase the image of the country as well as the Port in the list of good sea port. He also mentioned that CP will very shortly be enlisted with good sea port list in better positions.
Meanwhile, 16 percent ground breaking works of the proposed Patenga Container Terminal already completed in the meantime. This PCT is being constructed aimed at handling 4.45 lakh TEUS containers annually at a cost of 1,868 crores. Seven construction firms are working with 500 workers under the supervision of Bangladesh Army engineering core. In the meantime , Tk.357 crores handed over the Army core for the ground breaking and earth construction works, Project Director Mizanur Rahman Sarkar said. Project Director sources said in the proposed 600 meters long PCT, three 190 meters long container vessels and one 220 meters long oil tanker will be able to take berth at a time in container berth and Dolfin oil jetty respectively. The terminal is being built over 32 acres of land with 15 acres of back-up.
The storing capacity of the terminal finalized for 4,500 TEUs containers. Md. Mizanur Rahman Sarkar told the New Nation that PCT will be a global standard container terminal and hoped the construction work of the PCT will be ended within the target period. Port sources said , 29,03,996 TEUs containers were handled in 2018 which was 26,67,000 in 2017 A reliable sources said if this trend of container handling continues, the CP will be able to handle 35 lakh TEUs containers by 2022 . It is also hoped that after completion of proposed Bay Terminal at the estuary of Bay of Bengal, more 10 lakh TEUs containers may be handled than the existing handling capacity, sources added.
