New container yard opens at Ctg port, ups capacity by 4000 TEUs

The New Mooring Overflow Container Yard at the Chattogram port started its journey on Sunday.

The yard can accommodate 4,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers, which increases the port's container capacity from 49,000 TEUs to 53,000 TEUs.

Port officials said the yard built at the Freeport Junction in Chattogram will greatly reduce the possibility of container congestion in the future.

Bad weather and delays in unloading goods cause container congestion at the port. Besides, containers pile up in the port if importers take longer for delivery of goods than usual. 

According to Chattogram port officials, the foundation stone of the New Mooring Overflow Container Yard was laid in 2016. The yard, sprawling over 34 acres of land, was constructed in two phases and it cost around Tk175 crore. 

In 2021, the Chattogram port handled 32.14 lakh TEUs of containers, which was the highest in the last 44 years.

Port Chairman Rear Admiral M Shahjahan said, "Mobility has increased in the port, which is good news for us. The whole country is moving forward through this. The port is the main gateway to the progress of Bangladesh. Different countries want to invest in the Chattogram port."

Port Secretary Omar Faruk said, "The port's capacity is increasing through the implementation of various projects. The port can now hold more than 50,000 TEUs of containers."