Chittagong port has reduced waiting time from 6 days to 3 days for vessels and from 25 days to 16 days for containers in recent times.

Chittagong port has shown improved efficiency in handling of containers, thanks to computerised terminal management system (CTMS).

Installed in 2011, the CTMS facilitates loading and discharging of containers to and from vessels by tracking containers in real time and automatically generating bills and invoices.

“Because of the system we are confident of opening our seaport for transit facilities to India, Nepal and Bhutan,” said CPA Chairman Rear Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed, adding that the move would bring in substantial amount of foreign currency.

Ahmed said the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has turned the port into a world-class one by ensuring optimum utilisation of berths and yards, introducing systematic container handling, establishing control over container locations and increasing the use of modern equipments.

The CPA has also reduced ship turnaround time and boosted container holding capacity, he said.

Chittagong Port now handles more than 92 percent of the country's foreign trade, data from CPA showed.

“Factors such as road connectivity and infrastructure development outside of the port need to be considered as well when extending transit facilities to the neighbouring countries,” Ahmed added.

The marked enhancement of the Chittagong Port, however, would not have been possible without Asian Development Bank (ADB) assistance.

In 2004, ADB approved the $41.3 million Chittagong Port Trade Facilitation project with the view to boost port capacity and bring international standard security and environmental regulations.

Teresa Kho, ADB's country director, visited the port on Monday and found the progress made so far to be “impressive”.

Responding to a question, Kho said: “Chittagong Port Facilitation Project was really to help Bangladesh realise its potential to become an economic gateway to South Asia by lowering shipping and port charges.”

“Reduction in vessel waiting time and increased capacity to handle more containers at a lower cost will raise business competitiveness of the whole country and further promote Bangladesh's exports,” Kho said.

An efficient port will also help position Bangladesh as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment, she added.

Kho was particularly impressed with the reduction in waiting time of vessels and containers, which have come down to 3 days from 6 and from 25 days to 16 respectively.

“The port is now fully free from congestion. No trucks or other vehicles can be seen waiting around for carrying goods,” she said.

“It's continuing to improve. With this increased capacity, the port will see a greater volume of trade,” she added.

Quoting port officials, Kho said the Chittagong port now handles some 1.5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) container, which only a few years ago used to be just 7000.

M Khairul Mostafa, CPA's chief engineer, said: “There has been significant improvement following automation of computer handling. Now, anyone from any part of the world can identify the location of containers at the port, which previously was a very difficult proposition.”

“Things are much more disciplined than ever before and the port's income has increased by 30 to 40 percent,” he added.

He said there is no container or vessel congestion at the Chittagong Port, adding “container holding capacity has increased manifold”.

Security, too, has been tightened significantly, he said.

“There is no incidence of robbery or theft inside the port area.”

The CPA officials also assured of absence of any labour unrest in the port area.

The port handled around 1.5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) containers in fiscal 2010-11, up from fiscal 2009-10's 1.21 million, according to CPA.

News: The Daily Star/Bangladesh/15-Nov-12