Patenga Container Terminal to be partially operational from June next

The Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) at the Chattogram seaport may be partially operational in June 2020.

"We can start the partial operation in June 2020 next," Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Chairman Rear Admiral Zulfiqar Aziz has said.

"We have already started the piling work while the new equipment for fresh piling is arriving at the port," he added.

He said, "The full-fledged construction work will start very soon. We are working on piling now. On implementation of the PCT project with the own fund of the CPA, three container carrier ships measuring 190 metres long and having a draft of 10.5 metres will be able to berth at a time at the PCT."

"The new jetty of the PCT will be 600 metres long. Besides, 220-metre-long oil carrier ships will be able to berth at the Dolphin jetty of the PCT," he added.

He said, "There will be 16 acres of land for the back-up jetty of the PCT where 4500 TEUs of containers can be accommodated. Under the PCT project, 112,000cft RCC pavement, a 2,128cft Freight Station and a 1,750-mettre long bonded customs wall will be constructed."

The CPA chairman also said, "A new jetty is a must to cope with the ever increasing volume of cargo, containers as well as vessel traffic. However, our port has been experiencing 16 to 17 per cent growth in cargo and container handling over the last few years."

"The PCT and other terminals including Bay Terminal will play a vital role in the growth of cargo and container handling of the prime sea port of the country," he expressed his hope.

CPA Secretary Omar Faruk said, "The PCT will be equipped with modern handling equipment like key gantry cranes and rubber gantry cranes. Vessels may be berthed at the PCT within the shortest possible time because of the terminal being very near to the estuary of the Karnaphuli River."

"The PCT is situated on 32 acres of land with three berths. Three vessels will be able to take berth at a time at the terminal," he added.

PCT Project Director Mijanur Rahman Sarkar said the civil work of the terminal is being implemented under the supervision of the Engineering Corps of the Bangladesh Army." He also said already 18 per cent work on piling was already completed.

Currently a ship has to wait seven to ten days at the outer-anchorage of the sea port for berthing and for everyday a ship has to count $8,000 to $12,000 in demurrage for waiting at the outer-anchorage, which has an economic impact on the import of goods.

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