Turnaround time of vessels drops, container handling rises at Chittagong port
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Jasim Uddin Haroon
The turnaround time of vessels at the country's premier Chittagong port dropped and container handling rose in August last, port officials said.
Regular monitoring by the joint forces and introduction of private operation contributed to the remarkable improvement in activities at the port.
The vessel stay-time at jetties in August averaged 3.10 days against 3.26 days in July this year, said Chittagong port Authority Terminal Manager Zahid Hossain.
But it was only 48 hours at the modern Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) of the port during August. The CCT is equipped with sophisticated rail-mounted quay gantry cranes and other modern facilities.
The container handling rose by 8.8 per cent in August over that of July.
The CPA terminal manager also told the FE that the port handled a total of 85,116 containers of twenty-foot equivalent Units (TEUs) in August against 78,540 containers in July.
The number of container vessels called at the port also rose in August in comparison with the month of July.
Feeder vessels, which ply mainly on Singapore-Chittagong route called at the port a total of 79 times during the month of August against 73 times in July, said CPA officials.
Sources said privatisation of services by the CPA and regular close monitoring by the joint forces have improved the port situation.
The ships' stay-time has been falling since the proclamation of state of emergency in January 11 this year.
The vessel stay time at the port was 3.60 days in June and 3.48 days in May.
The turnaround time, which begins from the arrival of vessels at the outer anchorage to sail-out after discharging import cargoes and loading export goods, was 4.84 days in April this year.
It was 8.74 days in March, 8.69 days in February and 11.65 days in January this year.
The turnaround time of container vessels was over 13 days in December in last year and more than 22 days during October-November in 2006 when the political chaos disrupted communications and other activities at the port.
The turnaround time of vessels at the country's premier Chittagong port dropped and container handling rose in August last, port officials said.
Regular monitoring by the joint forces and introduction of private operation contributed to the remarkable improvement in activities at the port.
The vessel stay-time at jetties in August averaged 3.10 days against 3.26 days in July this year, said Chittagong port Authority Terminal Manager Zahid Hossain.
But it was only 48 hours at the modern Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) of the port during August. The CCT is equipped with sophisticated rail-mounted quay gantry cranes and other modern facilities.
The container handling rose by 8.8 per cent in August over that of July.
The CPA terminal manager also told the FE that the port handled a total of 85,116 containers of twenty-foot equivalent Units (TEUs) in August against 78,540 containers in July.
The number of container vessels called at the port also rose in August in comparison with the month of July.
Feeder vessels, which ply mainly on Singapore-Chittagong route called at the port a total of 79 times during the month of August against 73 times in July, said CPA officials.
Sources said privatisation of services by the CPA and regular close monitoring by the joint forces have improved the port situation.
The ships' stay-time has been falling since the proclamation of state of emergency in January 11 this year.
The vessel stay time at the port was 3.60 days in June and 3.48 days in May.
The turnaround time, which begins from the arrival of vessels at the outer anchorage to sail-out after discharging import cargoes and loading export goods, was 4.84 days in April this year.
It was 8.74 days in March, 8.69 days in February and 11.65 days in January this year.
The turnaround time of container vessels was over 13 days in December in last year and more than 22 days during October-November in 2006 when the political chaos disrupted communications and other activities at the port.