Chittagong Port - The Largest Sea Port of Bangladesh

The Port of Chittagong is the principal Port of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. It is situated on the right bank of the river Karnafuli at a distance of about 9 nautical miles from the shore line of the Bay of Bengal. River Karnafuli rising in the Lushai Hill falls in the Bay of Bengal after taking a winding course of 120 nautical miles through the districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts and Chittagong.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND      

Chittagong Port Office

The history of Chittagong Port can be traced back to the 4th century BC. During the 9th-15th century AD, Chittagong was known as ‘SHETGANG’ to earlyEuropean mariners. In the 16th century, Portuguese sailors took great interest in the locality around Chittagong which was then popularly known as ‘PORTE GRANDE’. The port was established at its present location in 1887. By 1910, four jetties were constructed to handle 0.5 million tons of cargo annually. Since then the port has grown gradually to its present shape.

SEAWARD LIMIT

With Patenga Beacon as centre if an arc is drawn seaward with a radius of 5.5 nautical miles till it intercepts the coast line at positions :-

Lat 220 18'45" N. Long. 91046'30"E in the North and Lat 22008'13"N.Long 91050'00"E in the South, the area enclosed within the extremities if the arc will from the Seaward limit of the Port of Chittagong.

SERVICE AND FACILITIES

Pilotage is compulsory for ocean going vessels. The entrance to the river is constantly changing and no vessel should attempt to enter without pilot. Pilot boards approximately 2 nautical miles seaward of the outer Bar Buoy.

In the moderate heavy weather a lee must be made for the Pilot Boat. The vessel receiving a Pilot is required to wait at the pilot ground near the entrance all clear of anchor taking into consideration the effect of tide and other conditions to facilitate boarding of the pilot in good time to be able to avail of the tide for entering and berthing etc. The propelling distance from the pilot ground to the main jetties is approximately 11 nautical miles and the distance has to be covered at variable speed in defferent sections of the river. Inward ships must present themselves at pilot ground at least 3 hours before the high water to enter on a particular day. This of course, is subject to the availability of berth and having permissible draft and length etc.

The ship movements generally commence about 5 to 5 hours before the day's high water and the tides have been termed Day or Night taking this factor into consideration.

During the spring tide/Freshet/Foul weather vessels under 7 knots will not be normally handled and such vessels will be classed grade 2 for operation purpose. Agents of such vessel are required to consult the Deputy conservator well in advance.

Masters are advised to manoeuvre with great care while receiving and disembarking pilots.

Vessels due for entering in the next 24 hours must anchor in Anchorage B. Keep R.T. Watch at least 3 hours before the pilot boarding time and also display her signal letters.

Incoming vessels normally enter with the flood time. The normal manoeuvre is to snub with the starboard anchor and proceed to berth/mooring after heaving up and finally go alongside using the port anchor.

NIGHT NAVIGATION

Night Navigation vessels upto 153.00M length with draft having 0.50M less than the days permissible draft will be allowed to take berth during Night (6 pm to 6 AM) at the Jetties from J/ltoj/13, MPB/1, MPB/2, DDJ/1, DDJ/2 and CUFLJ only.

Vessels with midship bridge upto 165.00 m & Vessels with AFT. Bridge upto 153.00 M Length having 0.30m (1.ft) Less than the day's permissible draft will be allowed to sail out during Night from j/1 to j/13, MPB/1, MPB/2, CCJ, GSJ, TSP, DOJ. DDJ/1, DDJ/2, & CUFL only.

Vessels with bridge on the BOW & vessels having containers on deck obstructing clear view of forward, will not be handled during night.

Vessel will not be allowed to take berth at or to sail out from jetty no.14,15,17, RM/3, RM/5, RM/6, RM/8 & RM/9 During night.

CPA'S JETTY BERTH

There are 15 Jetties of which 13 are provided with shore cranes and Railway tarcks, 11 are provided with Transit sheds. Vessels upto 185.91 M (LOA) may be berthed at a single cement concrete main Jetty. Backyard facilities are there for handling container/container cargo vessels.

PUBLIC SECTOR JETTIES

For bulk cargoes like Wheat, Cement Clinkers, Rock Phospates and Urea Fertilizer etc. the following Jetties are available.

(A) FOR OCEAN GOING VESSELS

1) Cement Clinker Jetty for vessels upto 167.63M.

2) Grain Silo Main Jetty for vessels upto 185.91 M. LOA.

3) T.S.P Jetty for Vessels upto 175.25M.

4) DDJ/1 & DDJ/2 Two or more vessels having total LOA 302M and having draft not more than 7.00 M may be berthed.

5) Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Jetty for Vessels upto 176M. can be loaded upto maximum draft of 8.50 M.?

6) KAFCO-1 (UREA) & KAFCO-2 (AMONIA) Vessels having maximum length upto 185.91M and be loaded upto maximum draft of 9.14 M. (To be commissioned soon) .

(B) FOR COASTERS AND INLAND VESSELS

Grain Silo Lighter Jetty for inland vessels and I.W.T. Vessels/crafts.

LIGHTER JETTIES

(1) L.J. NO.1 - Permanent cement concrete Jetty with 122 M. Jetty face at Sadarghat for coasters and inland vessels upto 70M. length vessels with dry cargo.

(2) L.J. No.2 - with Pontoon and shore connection (at New Mooring) for coasters and inland vessels upto 76M. With dry cargo.

(3) L.J. No.3 - with Pontoon and shore connection (jamuna) for inland tankers and vessels upto 76M. with POL in Bulk.

(4) L.J. No.4 - with Pontoon and shore connection (Meghna) for inland tankers and vessels upto 75M. with POL in Bulk.

(5) L.J. No.5 - with Pontoon and shore connection (ITT) for inland tankers and vessels upto 75M. with edible oil in Bulk.

(6) L.J. No.6-with cement concrete Jetty (PADMA) for inland tankers and vessels upto 70M. for bulk Pol.

MOORING BERTHS

1) River Mooring No.3 for ships upto 182.87 M. LOA and 7.61M. Draft with dry cargo and edible oil for over side work.

2) River Mooring No.4-with Pontoon and shore connection for vessels upto 170.67M. LOA and 9.14M. draft with edible oil and POL in bulk.

3) River Mooring No.5-with Pontoon ans shore connection for vessels upto 185.91 M. LOA and 9.14M draft with POL.

4) River Mooring No.6-with Pontoon and Shore connection for vessels upto 185.91 M. LOA and 9.14 M. Draft with POL.

5) Dolphine Oil Jetty: For vessels upto 185.91 M.LOA and 9.14 M draft for discharging Crude Oil.

6) River Mooring No. 8 for vessels upto 185.91 M. LOA and 8.0M draft with dry bulk cargo for handling through lighters.

7) River Mooring No.9-for vessels upto 185.91 M. LOA and 6.OM draft for repair of vessels.laying off.

HANDLING EQUIPMENT

(A) Shore Crane

There are 32 portal level luffing Electric cranes of 3 tons capacity each with 2 radius of 19.81 and 25M.

(B) Other Handling Appliances

Description Capacity Number Fork Lift Truck 5 Ton 7 Nos (1 at LCD) Fork Lift Truck 3 Ton 43 Nos. Mobile Crane 30 Ton 2 Nos. Mobile Crane 20 Ton 3 Nos. Mobile Crane 10 Ton 5 Nos. Mobile Crane 6 Ton 11 Nos. Heavy Tractor 25 Ton 5 Nos. Light Tractor 6 Ton 18 Nos. Heavy Trailer 25 Ton 15 Nos. Light Trailer 6 Ton 37 Nos.

Other Appliances JCBC handling attachment 7 Nos. Drum handling attachment 9 Nos. Bale handling attachment 1 Nos. Fork extention 6 Nos.

CLEARANCE OF CARGO FROM THE PORT

This port is connected with the hinterland by Bangladesh Railway, the inland Water ways through the Bay of Bangal and the Road net work.

Clearance of Dry cargo from the Port by the three modes of transport viz. Rail, Road and River, were approximately 4,93,578 M.T. 36,59,859 M.T. & 8,96,744 M.T. respectively during the period 1994-95.

LIGHTERAGE OF CARGO

The deep draft vessels can be lightered at the Outer Anchorage. This is to be restored to for vessels of deeper draft kutubdia. Depending on the Quanram involved in lighterage T-2 Type tankers and liberty vessels are arranged on character by the concerened Agencies from abroad or from the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation. Except the Ocean going Tankers and Vessels of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation engaged in lighterage, local lighterage, fleet consist of tankers each of approximately 1,000 tons capacity and coaster each of the capacity of 300 to 1000 tons owned by the Public and Private Sectors are deployed. Besides these country craft each of 20 to 80 tons capacity in private sector and steel barges each of 300 to 500 tons capacity in the public and private sectors are available to carry out lighterages work. The cargo from such lighters intended to be discharged at the Chittagong port is handled at a vacant jetty or in between the two vessels alongside the jetties. Cargo discharged into lighters at Outer Anchorage may also be directly transported to inland river ports and Mongla Port the Second international Port f the country, with prior permission of the port and Customs Authorities.

Due to rough sea during inclement weather, lightered at outer Anchorage and also Kutubdia during Mid April to Mid October might become difficult and Uncertain at times.

SUPPLY OF WATER, BUNKER & PROVISION

Fresh water is available at all the Chittagong Port Authority Jetties. Water is also supplied by Propelled water Barges to vessels inside Port and at the Outer Anchorage. Due to rough sea and inclement weather, water supply at the outer anchorage is affected often during Mid April to Mid October. Oil bunkers can be supplied to the vessels at the Oil Moorings. In emergent cases, Oil companies may undertake supply of Bunkers by inland tankers.

Coal Bunkers are available and supplies can be obtained by the Master/Local Agents through the Assistant Controller of Coal, Chittagong.

Fresh meat, fish, vegetable, milk, egg, rice, wheat, bread abd butter etc, are available for supply.

MEDICAL FACILITIES

Necessary medical facilities to offers and Crews of vessels may be made available at Chittagong Port Authority Hospital On request against payment of this may be privately arranged through the local Agents concered.

REPAIRING FACILITY

Quite a good number of small Marine Workshop are available and they can carry out the repair of the vessels. There is one ship Reparing Yard in Chittagong in which ships upto 560 ft. 10A 16,500 DWT can be drydocked. A few number of electric workshop are also available in Chittagong.

Repairing facility at the Moorings used for Dry Cargo may be allowed only for reasonable period with the prior permission of the Deputy Conservator and the Director Traffic.

UNDER WATER DIVING SERVICE

Such services can be made available by the Port Authority on hire charge basis.

MARINE SALVAGE FACILITIES

The Port Authority operates a small Marine Salvage Unit Services of personnel and equipment are available on hire charge basis.

RAIL & AIR TERMINALS

Chittagong is a terminal of Bangladesh Railway. There is an Airport close to the Harbour and regular Air Services are available from Chittagong to the rest of the Country.

There is regular communication by sea with the Port of the World.