Highest container handling in history at Chittagong Port

A record number of containers were handled at the Newmooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chittagong Port in August. Just two months after the Bangladesh Navy-run Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL) took over, 1,22,500 containers were handled in a month, which is the highest in the port’s history. Captain Md. Zahid Hossain, the terminal’s chief operating officer, gave this information at a press conference organized at NCT on Wednesday (September 3) morning. He said, ‘96,000 containers were handled at this terminal in August last year. In this regard, the handling in August this year has increased by about 27.6 percent. This is a new record in the monthly handling of Chittagong Port.’ Captain Md. Zahid Hossain said, CDDL took over the responsibility of NCT on July 7. Since then, due to their efficient management, proper use of equipment and regular maintenance, the overall operations of the terminal have accelerated not only in terms of container but also ship handling. The average berthing time and waiting time of ships at outer anchorages have also reduced. Officials have expressed hope that if the ongoing progress continues, the annual container handling capacity of Chittagong Port will increase to 3.7 million. No final decision has been taken yet on whether CDDL will operate NCT in the long term. It is said that this is a matter for consideration at the policy-making level of the government.