From now on, larger ships will arrive at Chattogram port
Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) built at Chattogram port saw its light through the inauguration of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. At the same time, the Prime Minister also announced the launch of the Bay Terminal Master Plan project.
On Tuesday (November 14) morning, the Prime Minister inaugurated these projects by connecting virtually from Ganobhaban.
As the PCT has been launched, now ships with 10.5 meter draft (ship depth under water) with 6000 TEUs containers can enter the port. At present, the port can accommodate ships with a draft of 9.5 meters. The 584 meter long jetty of the new terminal can accommodate 3 container ships simultaneously. Through this terminal, it will be possible to load and unload 5 lakh import-export cargo containers from ships annually. Apart from this, the 204 meter long Dolphin Jetty can accommodate an oil tanker. Once this container terminal with three jetties is fully operational, it will be possible to handle 14-15 container ships simultaneously at the port.
The terminal is primarily designed to unload import cargo containers from ocean-going vessels and transfer export cargo containers to ships. The terminal has been constructed on the banks of the Karnaphuli river in an area of about 26 acres between Chattogram Dry Dock and Chattogram Boat Club downstream from the main jetty of Chattogram port. When it comes into use, the number of terminals at the port will increase to four. And the number of main jetties of the port will stand at 21 for shipping.
The work of this terminal was inaugurated in September 2017 at a cost of about Tk. 1,230 crore with the Chattogram port's own funding. This work was supposed to be completed in 2019. However, the construction work started in 2019 with various complications including shifting of public and private facilities in the project area. The mother vessel at outer anchorage has to cross 12 nautical miles to reach the main jetty of Chattogram port. But to reach Patenga container terminal 6 nautical miles have to be crossed.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of the inauguration, Chattogram Port Authority organized a program at the PCT premises on Tuesday morning. There, the Prime Minister's speech was projected on a big screen. JS Whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, Member of Parliament MA Latif, Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, Chattogram Port Chairman Rear Admiral M. Sohail was present in the event organized at PCT premises. The port authority has decided to manage the new terminal to a Saudi Arabian company called Red Sea Gateway Terminal International Limited.
At the same time, with the inauguration of the Prime Minister, the Bay-Terminal project on 900 acres of land in an area of about 6.15 km along the Bay of Bengal also started to see the light of day.
Chattogram Port Chairman Rear Admiral M. Sohail said that the master plan of Bay-Terminal has been finalized. He said, this master plan has been finalized based on the opinions of local and foreign consultants and various foreign port authorities and partners. After the completion of the DPP and tender process, its construction will start in May-June next year.