Ctg port sets new records in container, vessel handling

Despite several operational disruptions this year, the country's premier Chattogram port is on track to hit record highs in container, cargo, and vessel handling, reflecting growth in foreign trade as well as improved port efficiency and capacity.

Operational disruptions, including yard congestion, led to vessel queues and long waiting periods at different times. However, several reforms -- including digital transformation and expanded yard capacity -- have significantly reduced vessel waiting times, bringing them down to almost zero in the last quarter, thereby supporting continued growth.

As of December 26, the port had handled a record 33.64 lakh TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers, the highest ever, up 2.68 percent from 32.27 lakh TEUs last year, according to Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) data.

Of this total, about 18.32 lakh TEUs were imports and 15.31 lakh TEUs were exports. Port officials expect roughly 45,000 more TEUs to be handled in the remaining days of the year.

The CPA compiled the data by counting import, export, and empty containers loaded and unloaded at the port's main jetties, the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal in Keraniganj, and the Kamalapur Inland Container Depot in Dhaka.

The port also handled a total of 13.63 crore tonnes of cargo, including containerised goods, surpassing last year's record of 12.40 crore tonnes. The total number of vessels handled reached 4,396, compared to 3,867 in 2024, also marking a record high.

CHALLENGES AND MEASURES

Operational activities, such as cargo handling and delivery, were severely disrupted for several days in May and June due to a nationwide pen-down strike by National Board of Revenue officials.

Other setbacks -- including the 10-day Eid-ul-Azha holidays in June, a weeklong customs server disruption in July, and repeated work abstentions by transport workers -- led to container build-up and a severe vessel queue that lasted until August, with waiting times exceeding 12 days at one point.

To ease congestion, the port authority gradually took measures and in August expanded the port's container storage capacity by nearly 10 percent to 59,000 TEUs by freeing up space in existing yards and using two old sheds outside the main port area.

The launch of a digital payment system for gate passes in February also began yielding results by mid-year, speeding up cargo transport.

With Chittagong Dry Dock Limited of the Bangladesh Navy taking operational charge of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) in early July, container handling at NCT increased noticeably in the following months.

As a result, vessel waiting times dropped sharply from September, with zero waiting days recorded for nine days in September, 18 days in October, 19 days in November, and 20 days so far in December. Ships now often berth immediately.

Khairul Alam Suzan, former director of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, said, "The Chittagong Dry Dock authority has remarkably streamlined queues of container and cargo-carrying vehicles at both the jetties and delivery points at the NCT, which has greatly improved the pace of container handling and delivery activities."

He also stressed the need to make customs operations round the clock, like port operations, for further improvement.

Commodore Ahamed Amin Abdullah, member (Harbour and Marine) of the Chittagong Port Authority, said, "This year, the port authority delivered exceptional performance, handling a historic volume of containers and cargo, driven by increased trade and expanded port capacity. Vessel waiting times were reduced to zero on many occasions, enabling berthing upon arrival and faster turnaround."

He credited the port authority's initiatives, including digital transformation such as e-gate passes, container tracking, and automated payment systems, for streamlining logistics, reducing hassles for port users, and improving transparency and efficiency.

"This success reflects a combination of strategic outlook, operational reforms, infrastructure development, digital transformation, and supportive policies, all of which strengthen the port's competitiveness in global maritime trade," Abdullah added.