210 metres long vessel possible to take berth at Ctg Port

Chattogram Bureau :

Chattogram Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral M Shahjahan said that if any organisation is interested in starting direct shipping
services from Chattogram Port on
the USA route like Europe, it will be considered on priority basis. On February 7, 2022, MV Tsonga Cheetah embarked from Chattogram for Ravenna port, Italy with 952 containers of export goods. It was a landmark decision. As there is no transshipment delay, the export products are going to various final destinations in Europe at a cost of 10-12 thousand dollars within 12 to 15 days. This saves time by 15 to 16 days, saving about $8,000 per container on April 25 at noon, on the occasion of port day martyred. He made this comment while interacting with journalists at Fazlur Rahman Munsi Auditorium. The port chairman said that 50 software modules are being developed to automate various departments with the aim of transforming Chattogram port into an international standard port. Through which it will be possible to turn the port into a paperless institution. Initiatives have been taken to build state-of-art chemical sheds to facilitate safe import and export of hazardous, radioactive, chemical products. The port limit has been increased from 7 nautical miles to 62 nautical miles. Procurement of 2 modern scanners to scan export containers is underway, which will be in place by June 2023. Plans have been taken to construct Lighterage Jetty at Hamidchar. By improving the skills of port pilots, ships of 210 metres long and 10.5 meters can be loaded in the future. There is a plan to construct a 200-meter passenger terminal on the banks of the Karnaphuli river estuary to facilitate the berthing of pilgrims and tourist ships. A survey is underway in this regard.
He said that the container capacity has increased to 55 thousand TEUs due to the construction of 580 thousand square meter yard in a decade to increase the capacity of the port.
At the same time 310 different types of equipment including ship to shore gantry cranes have been procured. There are 18 gantry cranes in the port. We have achieved all indicators of ease of doing business quickly.
Chattogram port is capable of transit transshipment. A few trial runs of transshipment in India have already been successful. “We have completed the capital dredging of Karnaphuli. Port berthing is done digitally. We have completed berthing of more than 120 ships at jetty constructed for coal based thermal power plant in Matarbari channel. This afternoon, the first 230 metres long and 13 metres draft 80,000 DWT coal-carrying ship will be loaded in the history of Bangladesh. Ships with a draft of more than 16 metres can be accommodated in this port. More cargo on bigger ships will actually reduce fares, increase revenue. International transshipment hub will be Matarbari. In addition to our three seaports, neighboring countries can use this port,” said the Chairman.