10-metre draft vessels to berth at Ctg port soon
Chattogram port will soon accommodate 10-metre draught vessels, increasing the port's berthing capacity.
After a survey report due this June, the container handling capacity of the largest port in the country will go up significantly.
UK-based HR Wallingford, conducting a survey, "Detailed Hydrologic & Hydraulic study of the Karnaphuli River", is scheduled to file a draft survey report on 24 April. It will submit its final report in June, paving the way for 10m draught vessels to start docking, said port officials.
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Currently only 9.5m draught vessels, 190 metres long, are able to anchor at the port jetty. These vessels carry 2500 to 2600 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers.
Once the port authority officially clears the docking of 10m draught and 200m long vessels, each vessel will have 1000-1100 more TEU containers.
Officials said, HR Wallingford has already verbally informed the port authority they can begin allowing 200m long vessels.
The survey is being conducted on a 41km stretch from Kaptai Dam to the Karnaphuli River estuary at a cost of Tk11 crore.
Omar Faruq, secretary to the Chattogram Port Authority, said increased berthing capacity will contribute to reducing turnaround time.
