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Singapore, Saudi Arabia short list for CPA Bay-terminal construction project


Published : 11 Jul 2020 12:30 AM | Updated : 08 Sep 2020 05:54 AM

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has expressed interest in the Bay-Terminal construction project. Singapore and Saudi Arabia have shortlisted nine companies from eight countries including China, India and South Korea.

The two companies short listed for the CPA proposed project are The Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) and Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT). CPA has confirmed that the shortlist has been made by the Prime Minister's Office.

According to port sources, Bay-terminal infrastructure will be built on the coast of Halishahar at Patenga estuary. 

The new Bay-terminal can be constructed by dredging a new channel 800 meters away from the shore and building a water breaking (water regulating) dam to prevent sea waves or storms. If the project is implemented, a Bay-terminal 6.15 km long and 600 m wide will be added to Chittagong Port.

It will be possible to accommodate mother vessels (large ships) with a draft of 10 to 12 meters. The estimated cost of the project is 2.5 billion. Bay-terminal will be constructed and operated through G2G under Private-Public Partnership (PPP). The project is expected to be implemented by 2025.

At present, ships ships with a draft or depth of 9 meters go to Chittagong port only during high tide. Ships of these drafts can carry a maximum of 1,800 TEUs (Twenty Fit Equal Units) containers. The Bay-terminal can handle 5,000 TEUs per ship. This will make the activities of Chittagong port more dynamic and will reduce the waiting time of ships in the port.

CPA Executive Engineer and project Engineer Rafiul Alam said there are many technical aspects in the implementation of the project from economic and technical point of view. This includes the details of investment, revenue sharing, duration of construction work, field of work and measurement. Consultants are also required; the process of hiring a consultant for the feasibility study is underway.

He said, “Nine companies from 8 countries including China, India, South Korea have expressed interest in implementing the Bay-terminal construction project and submitted their letters of interest fulfilling various conditions of their experience and capability.

The Prime Minister's Office has short listed PSA International in Singapore and RSGT in Saudi Arabia. However, the issue of awarding a construction contract or work order with them depends on our various conditions and the final agreement of both parties. After receiving the survey report, there will be a conciliation meeting with the two short listed organizations. Then the construction work of the Bay-terminal can be started.

On the other hand, a Bay-terminal is being constructed along the Chittagong-Fauzdarhat Marine Drive on the coast. In this way, trucks, lorries and covered vans with imported and exported goods will be able to move directly to Dhaka-Chittagong by avoiding traffic jams in the city. As a result, traders can save time and money and make a profit, so the stakeholders of the port are very interested in this bay-terminal.

This new port will have 13 general jetties with facilities 1 at length of 1,500 m, 1 at length of 1,225 m and 2 terminals equipped with modern equipment at length of 830 m.