The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) is setting up new Radio Control Room and Harbor Control Station at Moheshkhali, which will come into operation in June next. The control station site is in Matarbari of Moheshkhali Island where CPA is set to construct a sea port for loading and unloading goods from Mother Vessels which cannot enter the shallow Karnaphuli river where Chattogram port is located by the sea.
The proposed sea port will be able to berthing vessels with 16 meters depth or draft. In Global context the port is able to handle at least 12 meters draft vessel is known as a deep sea port. “Apart from controlling the deep sea port, the station will also control and support required facilities to vessels in new area of Ctg port in the Bay of Bengal which was extended seven times recently,” said Capt Ataul Haqim, Assistant Harbor Master of CPA.
“In Moheshkhali, this will be a new station extension of Ctg port,” he said, the port will also need another station in Sitakunda area, to monitor and provide all kind of supports in port area. The total areas of the Chattogram Port has been expanded seven times in the past. The current port areas has reached new areas of 54 nautical miles from previous only 7.5 nautical miles in the outskirts of the sea. The port area now extends from the village of Domkhali in Mirsarai to Sonadia Island under Moheshkhali.
The port's water ceiling has been increased keeping in mind the implementation of the mega development projects around Chattogram-Cox's Bazar. As a result, the coverage of port services is also increasing to a greater volume. With the help of Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, Ctg Port finalized a master plan for next 25-30years in 2016.
According to new master plan of Ctg Port, to meet the demand of country’s ongoing economic growth, the projected container traffic of Ctg Port is estimated to rise substantially. To meet the capacity, two container terminals at Patenga and Laldia at port channel of Karnaphuli River is under construction, expected to come into operation by 2020.
Around the Ctg port a massive Special Economic Zone in Mirsarai and deep sea oil and gas transmission installation near Moheshkhali have been constructed so that the port have to increase its service coverage. “Considering the reality, government allocated the area of Sandwip Channel, Kutubdia Channel and Moheshkhali Channel totaling about 500 sqare km of Bay of Bengal to Ctg Port through a gazette notification in January last”, Zillur Rahman, Estate Officer of Ctg Port informed.
“The area is maintaining through Port Act 1908 and port ordinance 1976. No one can build anything within 150 feet of the coast without permission of Ctg Port,” he added. The construction of three port facilities is under process in new port areas, which are deep sea port in Moheshkhali, Bay Container Terminal in Halisohor and Jetties in Sitakunda of Sandwip Channel.
“Ctg Port is controlling vessels through VTMIS, or Vessels Traffic Management and Information System, Capt. Ataul Haqim said adding, “In Moheshkhali there will be extension of existing VTMS network.” He said, “Floating LNG station is operating in the area, Single Point Mooring for Petroleum conduction from Mother Tanker will start soon. Movement of coal carrying Ships to Moheshkhali power hub will be started soon as well. In coming days Bay of Bengal would be a busy maritime route than the new Harbor Station in Moheshkhali.”
“Ctg Port Authority is constructing this harbor station with modern equipment by its own financing, so that in the near future, ships to the deep sea port can also be managed through it. First phases of the station will start June with Radio Control and the station will be equipped gradually to help Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard,” He added.
Around 3,800 ocean-going vessels and hundreds of different type of smaller vessels are dock at Ctg port every year. The first phase of the deep-sea port at Matarbari is expected to be completed by the middle of 2023 having one multipurpose and one container terminal. The main channel of the port will have 16-metre water depth and the target is set to bring mother vessels of 8,000 TEUs in the port.