National Desk
Chattogram Sea Port has registered significant progress over the past ten months, with notable improvements in key operational indicators including container and cargo handling, ship movements, and vessel turnaround times. Port authorities report a stable continuation of upward trends across all major operational areas.
According to officials from the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), the long-standing issue of vessel waiting time, previously ranging between five to fifteen days, has declined to nearly zero hours over the past three weeks. CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk described this reduction as a major milestone in the overall management of the country’s principal seaport.
“Previously, vessels arriving at the outer anchorage had to wait between five and fifteen days to berth at the port jetty. This waiting period has recently fallen to zero hours, which reflects remarkable progress in port operations,” Faruk said in a statement to BSS.
CPA sources highlighted that vessels berthed directly at the port jetty without waiting at the outer anchorage for nine days in September, eighteen days in October, and nineteen days in November, indicating a significant operational improvement. As a result, port-bound vessels can now secure immediate berth availability for loading and unloading cargo and containers, reducing delays and improving efficiency.
Operational data from the port shows that between January and October 2025, Chattogram Port handled 2,849,542 TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) of containers, 11,506,720 metric tons of cargo, and 3,552 ships. This represents an increase of 132,328 TEUs of containers, 1,290,817 metric tons of cargo, and 351 vessels compared to the same period in 2024. The growth rates are calculated at 4.87% for container handling, 12.64% for cargo handling, and 10.97% for ship movements.
The most notable improvements have been observed over the last three months (July–October) of the reporting period, compared to April–June, reflecting sustained progress across all key operational areas.
A significant factor contributing to this improvement is the transfer of management and operational responsibility for the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Chattogram Dry Dock Ltd, an installation under the Bangladesh Navy. Between July and October 2025, NCT handled 468,871 TEUs of containers and 253 vessels, representing increases of 15.50% and 19.35%, respectively, compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year.
Faruk emphasized that these operational gains have reduced the overall “lead time” for vessels. Importers can now receive goods in a more timely manner, while export cargoes are loaded onto ships more efficiently, enhancing the port’s role in facilitating trade.
The progress has been attributed to multiple factors, including the introduction of modern cargo and container handling equipment, expanded yard capacity, and wider implementation of information technology in port operations. CPA officials also credited the concerted efforts of port staff for these improvements.
During a recent visit, a delegation from Maersk Shipping Company in Singapore commended the port’s adoption of modern equipment, expanded yard capacity, and increased IT usage, recognizing these developments as key contributors to the operational advancement of Chattogram Port.