CHATTOGRAM, June 22: The Chittagong Port Authority is now set to lease out two container terminals, which include the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and Patenga Container Terminal (PCT), to foreign operators.
The move focuses on introducing competition among terminal operators and providing international standard services to port users.
According to sources, the Red Sea Gateway Terminal of Saudi Arabia will oversee the operation of the recently constructed Patenga Container Terminal, as the government has finalised the decision.
The Ministry of Shipping is currently consulting with the Red Sea Gateway Terminal and considering the company's proposals.
Omar Faruk, secretary of the Chittagong Port Authority, said the Chittagong Port Authority has appointed the International Finance Corporation as the transaction advisor to propose the terms and conditions for appointing the Patenga terminal operator.
"Once we receive the report from the International Finance Corporation, we will finalise the decision regarding the operator."
The port authority secretary said the Patenga Container Terminal is now ready for operation. However, the appointment of an operator is causing a delay in its start.
He thinks the terminal is likely to commence formal operation within the current year as the appointment process is expected to take several months to complete. Besides, it will take several more months to bring in the necessary equipment for full-scale operation.
According to sources, the container terminal is equipped with modern handling equipment such as key gantry cranes and rubber gantry cranes. Due to its proximity to the estuary of river Karnaphuli, vessels can be berthed at the terminal within a short time.
The terminal spans over 32 acres of land and consists of three berths totalling 600 metres in length. It has the capacity to accommodate three vessels with a draft of more than 9.5 metres simultaneously.
In another development, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on March 23 approved the appointment of an international standard private operator for the operation and maintenance of the New Mooring Container Terminal and Overflow Container Yard.
Following this, the government has been engaged in discussions with DP World. A delegation from DP World, led by Rizwan Soomer, the company's CEO for the subcontinent, visited Bangladesh and held meetings with government officials to discuss the proposals.
Since its inception, the New Mooring Container Terminal had been under the operation of a local operator. However, port users expressed dissatisfaction with the service provided.
The construction of the terminal, which consists of five jetties, was completed in 2007. Since May 2007, Saif Powertec Ltd has been operating jetties No 2 and 3 of the terminal on an ad-hoc basis.
The port authority appointed Saif Powertec Limited through two separate tenders as the operator for the jetties. Besides, Saif Powertec entered into a joint venture with two other firms, A&J Traders and M/s MH Chowdhury Limited, to serve as the operator for jetty No 4 and 5.
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