Container handling rises at Ctg port
Container handling at the Chittagong port increased by around 12 percent in the just concluded fiscal year from around 24.19 lakh twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in the previous year.
Official figures show the annual growth in the handling of such import, export and empty containers was 10.50 percent in 2016-17, down from 17.27 percent a year ago.
According to port users and authorities, container handling rose due to higher import and export, capacity enhancement of container storage, new handling equipment and streamlining of activities.
Storage has been increased by some 15,000 TEUs from around 36,000 TEUs while 10 pieces of container handling equipment, mostly cranes, costing Tk 118.50 crore were added in May, said Sarwarul Islam, terminal manager at Chittagong Port Authority.
Mahbubul Alam, president of Chittagong Port Users Forum, suggested that the trade and industry-induced growth could be maintained through the timely completion of projects such as the one for a Patenga container terminal, Laldia multipurpose terminal and Bay terminal.
