The much-anticipated Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) of Chattogram Port commenced operations today (June 10, 2024), marking a significant milestone for the port and the country. A container vessel, the Singapore-flagged ‘MAERSK DAVAO,’ anchored at the terminal this morning, initiating regular handling activities. Authorities anticipate the terminal will handle approximately 500,000 Twenty-ft Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually. PCT is the first terminal in Chattogram Port’s history to be operated by a foreign company, heralding a new era of foreign investment and operational models. This transformation has positioned Chattogram as a landlord port, a significant upgrade for Bangladesh’s maritime infrastructure. Ctg Port resumes partial activities after Cyclone Remal Six months ago, the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) signed an agreement with the Jeddah-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) of Saudi Arabia. Following customs formalities and equipment installations, Red Sea Gateway Bangladesh Limited has now officially commenced operations. Omar Faruk, Secretary of CPA, confirmed that RSGT is fully prepared to manage container handling at the newly built terminal. According to the CPA, the new terminal will not only enhance the port’s capacity but also reduce the average stay time for vessels. Constructed at a cost of Tk 150 crore, funded by the port, the PCT features state-of-the-art facilities, including gantry cranes that significantly increase loading and unloading efficiency. Rear Admiral Md Sohail, Chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority, noted that it would take approximately 18 months for the terminal to become fully operational. The PCT was built on 32 acres of land near Chattogram Drydock Limited to Boat Club, with the foundation stone laid on September 8, 2017. The project, supervised by the 34 Engineer Construction Brigade of the Army, commenced construction in 2018, involving a total cost of Tk 1,230 crore. Parliamentary delegation explores Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar in Ctg With the new terminal, vessels will no longer need to wait at the outer anchorage for extended periods, as the Patenga Container Terminal can accommodate four vessels at once across its jetties. This increased capacity is expected to alleviate congestion and streamline operations at Chattogram Port.

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company has shown interest to invest in Bangladesh for the operation, maintenance and modernisation of the country's Patenga container terminal in Chattogram. Vice Chairman of the Red Sea Gateway Terminal Board of Directors, Aamer A. Alireza, made the proposal during a meeting with State Minister of Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury in Jeddah on Tuesday. Read:Saudi-led oil production cut will have “consequences”: Biden Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) is the newest flagship container terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port, a world-class terminal spearheaded by the Saudi Industrial Services group SISCO, as well as the first privately funded BOT (Build, Operate and Transfer) development project in Saudi Arabia with investment of $1.7 billion up to 2050. The Saudi company is an international terminal operator representing a partnership between the Red Sea Gateway Terminal of Saudi Arabia and the Malaysian Mining Company (MMC). Earlier, a delegation led by the State Minister visited the head office and operations of the Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company, said the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh in a media release on Wednesday. The company's CEO Jens O. Floeand other senior officials of the company presented their plans and investment proposals for the modernisation of Patenga Container Terminal. After the meeting, the State Minister inspected the container handling operations at Jeddah Islamic Port. The has expressed its interest in the modernisation, maintenance and operation of Patenga Container Terminal in Bangladesh under the Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh on Public-Private Partnership. Read: Saudi envoy praises PM Hasina for development bonanza Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral M. Shahjahan and Ambassador of Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia Mohammad Javed Patwari were present. During his visit to Saudi Arabia, the State Minister is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Communications of Saudi Arabia. Earlier, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to Bangladesh Essa bin Yousef Al Duhailan said Saudi companies have expressed their eagerness to invest in Bangladesh in various sectors because of peace, political stability, favourable laws and good incentives.

The Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) signed a transaction advisory services agreement on Patenga Container Terminal with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Saturday in Dhaka. The "Equip, Operate and Maintenance of Patenga Container Terminal" deal was signed at the Prime Minister's Office in the presence of Ahmad Kaikaus, prime minister's principal secretary and chairman of the PPPA, and Shipping Secretary Md Mostafa Kamal, according to a media statement. Read: Colocity brings Microsoft Azure stack hub hybrid cloud to Bangladesh Muhammad Ibrahim, chief executive officer of PPPA, and Nuzhat Anwar, acting country manager of IFC, signed the agreement. Also, Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Shahjahan signed a letter agreement with Nuzhat. Read IFC, BRAC Bank to launch Bangladesh’s first ever housing bond

APM Terminals, a global port and terminal operator, has shown keen interest in developing and upgrading the infrastructure in Bangladesh and building a state-of-the-art and sustainable Patenga Container Terminal. The company particularly eyes the Patenga Container Terminal as it has the potential to alleviate many of the constraints that adversely impact the Chattogram Seaport, hindering the future economic growth of Bangladesh, according to the Danish Embassy in Dhaka. The company says it will trigger further investments along the supply chain and open new markets to Bangladeshi importers and exporters, while serving as catalyst for future relations between the European Union (EU) and Bangladesh.  Read:China offers not only ‘basket of money’ but also “affordable” proposals: FM APM Terminals representatives met key Bangladeshi stakeholders recently to explore deepening the cooperation on maritime infrastructure in the country.  Together with the Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Winnie Estrup Petersen, company representatives met State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Secretary of Shipping Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority Rear Admiral M Shahjahan, CEO of Public Private Partnerships Authority Sultana Afroz and Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus of the Prime Minister’s Office.  Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Petersen said trade between Denmark and Bangladesh is centered around the transfer of climate-friendly know-how and cutting-edge technologies. "It’s an effective way to accelerate Bangladesh’s green economic transition and build sustainable economic competitiveness, especially for access to the European markets, by leveraging public-private-partnership.’’   Commenting on the future infrastructure project in Patenga, Vice President, Global Head of Corporate Development at APM Terminals, Martijn van Dongen said the seaport in Chattogram is currently utilised at over 100% of its capacity.  "While truly commendable, it’s not a sustainable solution matching the country’s growth ambitions. We believe that by developing a new terminal in Patenga together with our Bangladeshi partners, we can provide a viable and much needed infrastructure solution with a positive economic impact.” APM Terminals is known for providing superior port logistics and container terminal operations globally to shipping lines.  Read:Bangladesh, US can work together to showcase effective climate actions: FM APM Terminals is committed to making the new terminal operational in the shortest time possible, said the Danish Embassy in Dhaka.  European investment in port infrastructure in Bangladesh is expected to invite greater foreign direct investment.  The potential engagement presents the opportunity to harness the operational synergies arising out of the integration of the Patenga Container Terminal with global export-import supply chain and help realize the true potential of the terminal as a modern, highly efficient, state-of-the-art terminal that aids the facilitation of local/regional trade and drives sustainable economic growth and stability, said the Danish Embassy. It is also an "opportunity" for Denmark and Bangladesh to "strengthen relations" by realizing a novel public private partnership project based on their shared maritime roots.

The newly built Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) in Chattogram is set to start its operation in June, said Chattogram Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral M Shahjahan. “After the opening of the terminal, it’ll be possible to handle 145 million TEUS containers in a year,” he said. Read: $58 million Patenga Container Terminal approved in principle Shahjahan revealed the information while talking at a views-exchange meeting with Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley, Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Enrico Nunziata and a BGMEA delegation at Chattogram Port Building on Sunday.

Two days after the Chittagong Port Authority took possession of land in Laldiar Char to build it, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval in-principle to a project titled “Equip, Operate and Maintenance of Patenga Container Terminal” to be implemented under public-private partnership, or PPP, on Wednesday.