The port of Chittagong received 15 new four-high straddle carriers, a gear that is essential for container handling. J Yang, a general cargo carrier, sailing under the flag of Hong Kong, reached Bangladesh’s prime seaport from China and berthed at a port jetty on 4 June, carrying the pieces of equipment.
According to Nasir Uddin, acting secretary of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), the authority bought the equipment from the Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company Limited (ZPMC), a Chinese state-owned engineering company, at a total cost of Tk 1.23 billion (around US$10 million).
The four-high straddle carriers will be used for transporting, lifting, and stacking containers up to four units high. The number of four-high straddle carriers at the Chittagong port now reached to total of 53, according to port officials.
Meanwhile, the port saw a 28% rise in May’s export goods laden boxes, compared to the previous month.
The Asian port handled 74,215 TEUs cargo-laden containers last month, compared to 53,683 TEUs in April, ahead of nearly two week long shutdown of factories linked to the Eid-ul-Azha holiday, which began on 5 June.
