Chittagong Port opens first docking facility

Our Correspondent | Published: June 23, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: June 22, 2014 23:05:04

CHITTAGONG, Jun 22: Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) inaugurated the first docking facility for repair work of its utility ships at a function in the port city Saturday.
 The 12-acre docking facility is situated in Chittagong Barik Building area at the bank of the river Karnaphuli.
Minister for Shipping Shajahan Khan, MP, was present as the chief guest at the inauguration. Local MP MA Latif and Shipping Secretary Monjurul Islam attended the function as the special guests.
Chairman of CPA Rear Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed presided over the function. Other high officials of Chittagong Port and Western Marine Group, among others, were also present on the occasion.
Established in 1978, the facility could never start working due to technical glitches. After 35 years of its establishment, Western Marine Services Ltd, the leading engineering firm in Bangladesh, undertaken the renovation work of the facility through an open tender floated by the port authority in 2012. In January 2013, Western Marine and the CPA signed an agreement for renovation and activation of the dockyard. After a span of just one year of repair work, Western Marine handed over the facility to the port authorities Saturday.
The Chittagong Port, one of the biggest seaports in the South East Asia region, did not have any facility for repairing the port utility ships.
The facility is consisted of several engineering shops with two docking facilities of 1200 tonnes and 500 tonnes capacity.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said after 35 years, Ministry of Shipping initiated the project and the CPA with technical support from the Western Marine make the workshop active for the first time.
"It is a great achievement for the entire nation," he added.
MA Latif MP said the facility will add great value to port's activity and save a lot of government revenue.
"It will create job opportunity for more than 300 people in Chittagong." He said.
The shipping secretary said Chittagong port will no longer have to rely on other sources for repairing utility ships. As a result, it will save lots of government revenue.
The port chairman said Chittagong Port had to rely on foreign engineering firms and domestic dockyards to repair its ships. Through the marine workshop, the port increased its capacity a lot to repair the ships.
Chairman of Western Marine Saiful Islam said the engineering firm had to face many challenges while working on this project. Finally, the firm made it possible through her fine engineering work.