The much-awaited Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) in Chittagong is going to begin its journey on 10 June.
Through the PCT’s inauguration, Bangladesh’s prime seaport Chittagong is set to get a new container terminal, 17 years after the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) launched operations.
The newly built box terminal will enhance Chittagong port’s container handling capacity by 500,000 TEUs and is expected to help lessen congestion at the Bangladeshi port to some extent and help lower the sufferings of the port users.
The Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), a Jeddah-based globally renowned port operator, has been appointed to run the container terminal. It is important to note that this is the first time in the history of Bangladesh’s port sector that a foreign player will operate a terminal.
Many foreign operators now thronged in Bangladesh, including PSA Singapore, AD Ports Group, DP World, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited, and APM Terminals, to grab ports and terminals after the government decided to invite foreign investments in the port sector.
On Monday, operations at the PCT will begin by handling Maersk Davao, a Singapore flag carrier ship having 185.99 meters LOA and 36 meters width. The container feeder ship is now on the way to Chittagong from Port Klang, the main gateway to Malaysia by sea route.
The RSGT will bring gantry cranes for the terminal by August 2025 to start handling gearless vessels, while orders have already been placed to bring ship handling equipment.
The terminal, built on 130 square meters of land in Karnaphuli River, comparatively close to the outer anchorage of Chittagong port, has three jetties with a total length of 600 meters.
The box terminal will be able to handle ships with up to 10.5-meter water draught with three container vessels of 190-metre length and a 220-metre long oil tanker being able to take berth at the terminal at the same time.
The RSGT will operate the terminal for 22 years, through which the Chittagong Port Authority is adopting landlord model in port management. Gradually, the port authority will detach itself from port operations by awarding all the jetties to foreign and local port operators, according to Omar Faruk, the spokesperson of Chittagong Port Authority.
Sharar Nayel
Asia Correspondent
