The Patenga Container Terminal in Chittagong will start handling boxes in April, and the port authority will run the terminal until a foreign operator is appointed, according to the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) chairman, Rear Admiral Mohammad Shahjahan.
Shahjahan noted that the port will use part of its existing equipment fleet to operate the terminal. He added that currently, no gantry cranes will be needed for the terminal operation, as only the geared vessels will be allowed to take berth at the Patenga Container Terminal.
“Once a foreign or private operator is appointed, then they will bring required equipment, including gantry cranes, in the terminal,” he pointed out.
The CPA chairman confirmed that the terminal will be operational until June at the latest, with the initial target being April.
Shahjahan said the hinterland connectivity of the terminal is ready and the required roads are built accordingly.
Bangladesh Army has built the US$240 million terminal, funded by the CPA, at 130m² of land which will have the capacity to handle nearly 0.5 million TEU annually.
Many foreign operators, which include Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) of Saudi Arabia and DP World, have expressed interest to operate the terminal.
The 600-metre-long box terminal will be able to handle vessels up to 10.5 meters. Three box-ships of 190-metre length and a 220-metre long oil tanker will be able to take berth at the terminal at a time which will also have a storing capacity of 4,500 TEU.
The terminal will have a 128m² freight station, a 2500-metre long railway track, a 1,750-metre long custom bonded area, a fuel station, and a labour shed.
Vessels will be able to take berth in the terminal faster than other facilities as the terminal is near to the estuary of the Karnaphuli River compared to others.
Usually, taking berth and leaving jetties for vessels in Chittagong port is tide-dependent. Many vessels need to wait for over 10 hours to leave the port even after loading boxes and getting departure permission, waiting for tide. Vessels taking berth or leaving the Patenga Container Terminal may not need to wait such long, according to officials.
Sharar Nayel
Asia Correspondent
