CHATTOGRAM: The Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) started its operational activities temporarily by berthing a ship loaded with rice on Wednesday.
The vessel MCL-19, loaded with 2,650 tonnes of rice imported from Myanmar, was berthed at the PCT last evening.
The unloading of food grains from the ship started formally after a prayer season this (Wednesday) morning.
The agent of the ship is Seven Seas Shipping Lines Limited and the stevedore is W Khan Company Limited.
Chairman of CPA Rear Admiral M Shahjahan said, "We've berthed a ship loaded with food grains at the PCT last evening. The unloading of food grains (rice) has started this (Wednesday) morning. We are temporarily operating the PCT to unload the food grains as per a directive from the Prime Minister's Office to take necessary action for importing food grains through Chittagong port on priority basis. So, we are berthing the ships loaded with food grains at the PCT now."
He added, "The PCT is ready for inauguration and it is handling bulk carriers on the first day and geared container vessels thereafter on a priority basis."
Construction work of the PCT has just been completed at a cost of Tk12,995.8 million, funded the CPA.
A total of three container ships of 190 meters length and 9.5 meters drafts can be berthed at the PCT at a time.
Besides, one oil tanker of 290 meters length can be berthed at the Dolphin Jetty of the PCT.
Chairman of Seven Seas Shipping Lines Limited Ali Akber said, "The PCT has started its formal operation by berthing our ship MCL-19 last evening. The unloading of imported rice from Myanmar has started from this (Wednesday) morning."
"More ships loaded with rice will be berthed at the PCT soon. I'm very proud for starting operation of the PCT by berthing our ship. Earlier, the New-mooring Container Terminal (NCT) started its formal operation by berthing our ship," he added.
Sources said, the PCT is designed with modern handling equipment like Key Gantry Cranes (KGC) and Rubber Gantry Cranes (RGC).
Vessels can be berthed at the PCT within a short possible time because the terminal is very near to the estuary of Karnaphuli River.
The PCT is situated on 32 acres of land with three berths of total 600 meters in length and three vessels having draft more than 9.5 meters each will be able to take berth at a time in the terminal.
Sources said the CPA received formal administrative approval for constructing a new container terminal at Patenga in Chittagong seaport in July 2017.
Besides, on June 13 the same year, the Ministry of Shipping gave administrative approval to the project.
The cost for the new terminal was managed from the CPA's own found.
It may be mentioned that the new terminal was scheduled to start operation in July last.
