Govt eyes foreign operator for port
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Syful Islam
The government may allow a foreign operator to manage the affairs of the Chittagong sea port. However, a decision to this effect would depend on the experience to be gathered from the New Mooring Container Terminal (NMCT), Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan told the FE Wednesday. "Handing over of operational activities of the NMCT to a global operator is now under process and we will think about the Chittagong port after gaining experience from it," the minister said. Mr. Khan led a 12-member parliamentary delegation to UAE, Singapore, and Kenya to see how the ports Continued from page 1 col. 2 in there countries were operating. On his return from the tour the minister has submitted a proposal to the cabinet for the development of country's ports. The shipping minister said some seven global operators from China, UAE, the USA and India have been short listed to operate the NMCT. "We will soon select a global operator for the NMTC." "If we find the operation of NMCT by the global operator more efficient, then we will consider the same for the country's largest sea port," Mr. Khan said. He said during their visit to ports in UAE, Singapore and Kenya the team found that many ports in those countries were being operated by the global operators. "Those ports are fully automated and we didn't see any container jam there." The minister submitted a proposal to increase government's representation in the boards of Chittagong and Mongla ports, incorporating four joint secretary-level officials from the ministries of shipping, home affairs, commerce, and Mercantile Marine Department. He suggested establishment of an observation tower at Chittagong port with modern equipment like radar and computers. Mr. Khan also suggested collection of two mobile harbour cranes for heavy cargo handling, setting up of automated secured gate control and management system at Chittagong port, and freeing the port authority from the responsibility of terminal and berth operation in phases so that they could contribute more effectively to port control and development. He said the ministry has already decided to establish a 16-floor observation tower with office facilities in the Chittaging port to monitor the port activities more efficiently. A member of the delegation told the FE that many of the major Indian and Singaporean ports were being operated by global operators. The Dubai port is being operated by the DP World.
The government may allow a foreign operator to manage the affairs of the Chittagong sea port. However, a decision to this effect would depend on the experience to be gathered from the New Mooring Container Terminal (NMCT), Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan told the FE Wednesday. "Handing over of operational activities of the NMCT to a global operator is now under process and we will think about the Chittagong port after gaining experience from it," the minister said. Mr. Khan led a 12-member parliamentary delegation to UAE, Singapore, and Kenya to see how the ports Continued from page 1 col. 2 in there countries were operating. On his return from the tour the minister has submitted a proposal to the cabinet for the development of country's ports. The shipping minister said some seven global operators from China, UAE, the USA and India have been short listed to operate the NMCT. "We will soon select a global operator for the NMTC." "If we find the operation of NMCT by the global operator more efficient, then we will consider the same for the country's largest sea port," Mr. Khan said. He said during their visit to ports in UAE, Singapore and Kenya the team found that many ports in those countries were being operated by the global operators. "Those ports are fully automated and we didn't see any container jam there." The minister submitted a proposal to increase government's representation in the boards of Chittagong and Mongla ports, incorporating four joint secretary-level officials from the ministries of shipping, home affairs, commerce, and Mercantile Marine Department. He suggested establishment of an observation tower at Chittagong port with modern equipment like radar and computers. Mr. Khan also suggested collection of two mobile harbour cranes for heavy cargo handling, setting up of automated secured gate control and management system at Chittagong port, and freeing the port authority from the responsibility of terminal and berth operation in phases so that they could contribute more effectively to port control and development. He said the ministry has already decided to establish a 16-floor observation tower with office facilities in the Chittaging port to monitor the port activities more efficiently. A member of the delegation told the FE that many of the major Indian and Singaporean ports were being operated by global operators. The Dubai port is being operated by the DP World.