NCT to start full operation in 18 months

Our Correspondent
CHITTAGONG, Apr 25: The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Chairman Friday said the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) will start full operation within the next 18 months.
Besides, Karnaphuli capital dredging project will take one more year to be completed.
Rear Admiral Nizam Uddin Ahmed said these at a press conference, organised on the occasion of the port's 127th anniversary at its training centre near the Bandar Bhaban in the port-city.
In the programme he highlighted various issues, including the development projects, undertaken by CPA for the next five years, average staying time of ships in the port, cargo handling activities, and procurement of cargo and container handling equipment etc.
Mr Ahmed further said only 35 per cent of NCT is currently being utilized.
"It will take another 18 months to go into full operation," he said.
He informed that CPA tried to hand over NCT's operations to private operators by issuing tenders. But the process could not proceed further, as the parties concerned filed writ with the High Court.
CPA has now decided to run NCT by itself, and for that purpose the authority has undertaken a project to procure equipments.
After NCT starts full operation, five vessels can anchor at the terminal at a time, and its container handling capacity will double than the present.
The CPA chairman said the capital dredging of the Karnaphuli River, including river bank protection and developing jetty facilities, is being implemented by Malaysian Maritime & Dredging Corporation.
The Malaysian firm entered into a contract with CPA on April 28, 2011. As per the contract it was supposed to complete the work on January 2, 2013. But so far only 79.78 per cent work of the project has been completed.
As the Malaysian company failed to complete the job on schedule, CPA issued a notice upon it for cancelling the contract.
"As the contracted dredging work did not progress, the port authority imposed liquidity damage worth Tk 50 million. Still then the firm failed to comply with terms and conditions."
The CPA chairman also alleged that the Malaysian company violated the terms of contract by handing over sub-contract of the work to a local firm.
"So, we have cancelled the contract, sent a proposal for calling tenders anew for the same, and sought approval of the Ministry of Shipping on March 5," he added.