CHATTOGRAM, Mar 02: Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) will start its operation under the management of a foreign operator in April this year.
Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), a company of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), will operate PCT for next 22 years.
This is the first time that a foreign company will run PCT of Chattogram seaport.
"Initially, RSGT will not be able to operate the key gantry crane. But, it will bring in key gantry cranes within next few months. Initially, it will begin handling containers with ship's crane," CPA Secretary Omar Faruk says.
"After the operator's appointment, it will take several more months to bring equipment for the full-scale operation of the terminal."
According to him, "PCT costs Tk 1299.58 crore which is the own fund of the CPA. Three container ships with 190 metre length and 9.5 metre drafts can be berthed at PCT at a time. Besides, an oil tanker with 290-metre length can be berthed at Dolphin Jetty of PCT."
The CPA leased out PCT to the foreign operator on December 06 last year to bring in competition among the terminal operators and make available the international standard services for the port users.
To this effect, the CPA and the RSGT signed an agreement on December 6 last year at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Dhaka.
CPA Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail and RSGT CEO Jeans O Foley signed the concession agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al Falih witnessed the signing ceremony.
Five terminal operators showed interest in the new terminal - including AP Moller - Maersk (Maersk), RSGT, Dubai Port World (DP World), Adani Port and Special Economic Zone Ltd and PSA International.
Following the government-to-government negotiation between Bangladesh and the KSA, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Saudi Arabian company RSGT and the shipping ministry of Bangladesh in 2019.
The Ministry of Shipping decided to appoint RSGT to operate PCT.
Sources said PCT was equipped with modern handling equipment like key gantry cranes (KGC) and rubber gantry cranes (RGC).
The vessel can be berthed in PCT within a short possible time because the terminal is very near to the estuary of the Karnaphuli River.
PCT is situated over 32 acres of land with three berths of 600 metres in length and three vessels with more than 9.5 draft vessels are able to take berth at a time in the terminal.
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