Chittagong port steps into 131st year

The country’s premier port stepped into its 131st year yesterday. Chittagong port controls 92 per cent of the exports and imports of the country.
The port started its journey on April 24, 1887. With time, its capacity has grown exponentially. The port is now called the ‘Golden Gateway of Prosperity’.
The port started handling container ships in 1977 with only six TUEs (twenty-feet-equivalent containers) from a ship named SS Tenacity. Within 11 years, in 1988, it touched the milestone of handling 100,000 TUEs.
The port handled more than 23 lakh TUEs last year, which was a record. Every year, the number of containers handled by the port is increasing by 16 per cent, apart from over 200 other vessels.
The International Maritime Bureau has recognised Chittagong port as a ‘Safe Port’. The port is also listed as a skilled port that uses limited resources. Lloyd’s Register, a UK-based maritime classification society, listed it 76th among the top 100 ports.
“In 2015, we handled 2,024,203 TUEs. In 2016, the number rose to 2,346,909 TUEs. In 2015, the port dealt with about 6.50 crore tonnes of cargo. That figure reached 7.72 crore tonnes in 2016,” Rear Admiral Khaled Iqbal, chairman of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), said on Monday. He was speaking at a meeting held to exchange views with journalists at Shahed Md Fazlur Rahman Munshi Auditorium in Chittagong.
“The number of vessels handled by the port has also increased. In 2010, Chittagong port handled 2,203 vessels, while in 2015, the number rose to 2,730. In 2016, the port handled 3,014 vessels,” he added.
Ships with a 9.5-metre draught can anchor in the port now, said Iqbal.
For the first time, the CPA will arrange a port expo to show its capacity. It will be held from April 27 to 28. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the expo through a video conference at noon on April 27.

Chittagong port steps into 131st year

The countrys premier port stepped into its 131st year yesterday. Chittagong port controls 92 per cent of the exports and imports of the country. The port started its journey on April 24, 1887. With time, its capacity has grown exponentially. The port is now called the Golden Gateway of Prosperity. The port started handling container ships in 1977 with only six TUEs (twenty-feet-equivalent containers) from a ship named SS Tenacity. Within 11 years, in 1988, it touched the milestone of handling 100,000 TUEs. The port handled more than 23 lakh TUEs last year, which was a record. Every year, the number of containers handled by the port is increasing by 16 per cent, apart from over 200 other vessels. The International Maritime Bureau has recognised Chittagong port as a Safe Port. The port is also listed as a skilled port that uses limited resources. Lloyds Register, a UK-based maritime classification society, listed it 76th among the top 100 ports. In 2015, we handled 2,024,203 TUEs. In 2016, the number rose to 2,346,909 TUEs. In 2015, the port dealt with about 6.50 crore tonnes of cargo. That figure reached 7.72 crore tonnes in 2016, Rear Admiral Khaled Iqbal, chairman of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), said on Monday. He was speaking at a meeting held to exchange views with journalists at Shahed Md Fazlur Rahman Munshi Auditorium in Chittagong. The number of vessels handled by the port has also increased. In 2010, Chittagong port handled 2,203 vessels, while in 2015, the number rose to 2,730. In 2016, the port handled 3,014 vessels, he added. Ships with a 9.5-metre draught can anchor in the port now, said Iqbal. For the first time, the CPA will arrange a port expo to show its capacity. It will be held from April 27 to 28. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the expo through a video conference at noon on April 27.