Ctg port maintains 'Three Million Club' membership in 2023

CHATTOGRAM, Dec 27: Chittagong Port maintained its membership in the prestigious 'Three Million Club' for 2023, with officials reporting container throughput reaching 3.1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
This marks a quite consistent track record for the port, which handled 2.9 million, 3.1 million, 2.8 million, 3.2 million and 3.1 million TEUs in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Despite navigating the Russia-Ukraine war fallout and the lingering Covid shadow, Chattogram port has demonstrated remarkable resilience, maintaining its upward trajectory in container volume, according to Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail.
He spoke to journalists on Wednesday and briefed them about the port's ongoing transformation into a "world-class smart and modern international" seaport.
"Chittagong port is on its way to becoming a smart and modern international seaport, serving the global community," said Rear Admiral M Sohail.
"Its strategic location and expansion plans, encompassing the deep seaport at Matarbari, Bay Terminal, Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) and New-mooring Container Terminal, position it to be one of the world's largest seaports," he commented.
The CPA chairman said the quality and capacity of Chattogram seaport are steadily increasing, in line with international standards.
"We are continuously enhancing our service quality, expanding operational areas and developing new sea routes," he added.
According to Rear Admiral M Sohail, the Matarbari deep seaport will be a game-changer for Bangladesh's shipping sector by enabling direct shipping and ushering in a new era.
Rear Admiral M Sohail said within the next three to five years,  Chattogram port will evolve into a major international business hub, playing an essential role in driving the country's economic development.
"The Bay Terminal is no longer a dream," he said. "Under the leadership of the prime minister, a comprehensive master plan has been unveiled.
Abu Dhabi Port Group has committed to a $1 billion investment in a joint venture with Chittagong Port to establish a multipurpose terminal at Bay Terminal."
Agreements are expected next year with PSA Singapore and DP World for the construction and operation of Bay Terminal's Container Terminals 1 and 2. Construction of the multipurpose terminal is scheduled to begin in mid-2024, he said.
To strengthen the nation's energy security, plans are underway to construct a gas and oil terminal as the fourth terminal at Bay Terminal, said the top CPA official, adding a private company has expressed interest in investing $3.4 billion in this project.
Denmark's APM Terminals has proposed developing the Laldia Container Terminal through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Other top CPA officials, including Secretary Omar Faruk, were present at the briefing.
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