Staff Correspondent, Chattogram
Chittagong port is buying Tk 900 crore equipment to deal with the demand of import export trade of the country in the next few years. 104 equipment with 4 key gantry cranes are being purchased. Some of this equipment will operate in new locations.
Port officials said the activities of the port are constantly increasing. Container handling in Chittagong port was 14 lakh in 2012 whereas in 2015 it increased to 20 lakh 24 thousand 2 hundred and 7 containers. Since then, the port of Chittagong has not backed down. The number of container handling is increasing every year.
In 2019, by handling 31 lakh containers, Chittagong Port has made its debut as 'Three Millionaires Port'. There are currently 60 ports in the world operating as three millionaires port.
Chittagong was ranked 70th in 2017 in the list of the top 100 ports in the world made by Shipping magazine 'Lloyds List', top officials of the port authority said. Overall, Chittagong port is currently 64th in the list. By 2024, the port wants to be 50th on the Lloyds list by handling 55 lakh TEUs containers.
To coordinate the handling of this huge amount of containers, the port authorities have begun the process of purchasing the equipment. When this equipment are added to the fleet, the port's product handling capability will increase significantly.
Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Zulfiqar Aziz said collection of equipment is an ongoing process. At the same time, we have to buy some equipment and replace some equipment.
He said we had formed a committee which after looking at various yards and berths, made a list of necessary equipment. After extensive examination, the list was sent to the ministry for approval. He also reiterated his dream of taking Chittagong port to the 50th spot among all the ports in the world.