Chittagong port’s Patenga container terminal (PCT) is expected to start operations in early 2022. Despite delays in the construction of the terminal, due to COVID-19 restriction, the project work will end this year and full operations at PCT are expected by Jan-Feb 2022, according to port officials.
More than 75pc of the construction work is now complete. COVID-19-related lockdowns last year as well as this year, delayed the construction but since the easing of restrictions last month, work is in full progress, officials said to local media.
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is financing the BDT18.68bn ($219mn) project. The construction of the jetty area of Chittagong Port is almost complete. The terminal will have specialised dolphin oil jetty for unloading fuel oil and will be connected to backyards, roads, rail tracks and other facilities. PCT will have advanced container handling equipment including key gantry cranes and rubber gantry cranes.
The new jetty will be 600m long. Ships with draft exceeding 9.5m would be able to berth at the PCT jetty, while at a time three container ships of 190m can take berth at PCT. The project also includes a freight station and bonded customs warehouse.
Additionally, 220m oil tankers can berth at the dolphin jetty along with a 16-acre-backyard, which can store containers totalling 4,500 TEUs.
Bangladesh has witnessed a 16-17pc rise in cargo and container handling at its port in the last few years. After the start of operations at PTC, the total container handling capacity of Chittagong Port will increase to 450,000 TEUs, officials said.