CPA planning to operate NCT on its own
Sunday, 30 December 2007
Jasim Uddin Haroon
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is planning to operate the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) on its own until complexities relating to management handover to an internationally reputed operator end.
The floating of international tender for appointment of an operator for the NCT remained halted for long as the local investors and port operators appealed to the government for relaxing the tender terms and conditions.
Captain Yahia Syed, member, operation and harbour of the CPA told the FE that they themselves would start operating from the terminal until handing it over to a private operator through competitive bidding.
"We will not keep the terminal idle. We will use its berths as we have equipment, manpower and other logistics to operate it," said Yahia Syed.
The CPA constructed the terminal at a cost of Tk 3.51 billion to keep pace with the growing international trade carried out through the country's premier seaport.
Meanwhile, the China Harbour, a Chinese construction firm, is likely to officially hand over NCT to the CPA tomorrow (Monday) as all civil constructions for the terminal have been completed.
Two of the newly constructed berths are now being operated experimentally and the remaining three berths with back-up facilities will soon be in operation.
The terms and conditions, which have already been prepared by the CPA are not favourable for the local investors and port operators, said local investors.
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is planning to operate the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) on its own until complexities relating to management handover to an internationally reputed operator end.
The floating of international tender for appointment of an operator for the NCT remained halted for long as the local investors and port operators appealed to the government for relaxing the tender terms and conditions.
Captain Yahia Syed, member, operation and harbour of the CPA told the FE that they themselves would start operating from the terminal until handing it over to a private operator through competitive bidding.
"We will not keep the terminal idle. We will use its berths as we have equipment, manpower and other logistics to operate it," said Yahia Syed.
The CPA constructed the terminal at a cost of Tk 3.51 billion to keep pace with the growing international trade carried out through the country's premier seaport.
Meanwhile, the China Harbour, a Chinese construction firm, is likely to officially hand over NCT to the CPA tomorrow (Monday) as all civil constructions for the terminal have been completed.
Two of the newly constructed berths are now being operated experimentally and the remaining three berths with back-up facilities will soon be in operation.
The terms and conditions, which have already been prepared by the CPA are not favourable for the local investors and port operators, said local investors.