Bangladesh
Patenga Container Terminal Patenga Container Terminal's management to be handed over to Saudi firm soon
Dhaka, Oct 11: The management of Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) built at Chittagong Port is being handed over to a foreign company soon. Chittagong Port Authority will soon sign an agreement with Saudi Arabian port-management company 'Red Sea Gateway'. The company will contract to operate this terminal for 22 years from the date of contract.
The Chittagong Port Authority has constructed the PCT with its own funding at a cost of Tk 1,868 crore. The newly constructed terminal can accommodate three container ships simultaneously. Through this terminal built in Patenga area, it will be possible to handle 445,000 TEUs containers per year, the port officials said.
Also, since this terminal is close to the Bay of Bengal, more draft ships can be handled here than the other terminals of Chittagong Port. Whereas at present Chittagong port jetty can accommodate container ships with 9 meters draft and 190 meters length, when the PCT is operational, ships with 190 meters length and 10.5 meters draft can be accommodated.
In this regard, Chittagong Port Secretary Md. Omar Farooq told Bangla Tribune, "Patenga Container Terminal is ready. Director recruitment process will be completed soon. However, a policy decision has been made to give the responsibility of managing the PCT to Red Sea Gateway, a port operator in Saudi Arabia. I will sign a contract with that company soon. Then the company will invest here."
He further said, "Many foreign companies have shown interest in operating the Patenga terminal. Among them, we considered this institution in Saudi Arabia to be the best."
Director of Patenga Container Terminal Project and Executive Engineer of Chittagong Port Authority, Mizanur Rahman, told Bangla Tribune, "The construction of this terminal was completed in June 2022. Now waiting for operator recruitment. Work will start at this terminal by appointing an operator."
He added, "The location of this terminal is near the Bay of Bengal. About seven kilometers before the remaining terminal at Chittagong port. Due to which the commuting distance will be reduced by 14 km. It will save fuel and time. Along with this, vessels with a draft (depth) of 10.5 meters can be accommodated at Patenga Container Terminal. All the remaining terminals of Chittagong Port are unable to accommodate this amount of draft ships at present. It will reduce the cost of importing and exporting goods as there is an opportunity to sail large ships with more containers."
