Chittagong Dry Dock to take over NCT operation on Monday

Chittagong Dry Dock Limited will take over the responsibility of managing the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chittagong  port from the Saif Powertec Limited for six months on July 7,  seen as a "historic change."

"We hope that the new journey will reduce corruption, break port-based syndicates, increase mobilty and boost revenue," Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB, noting that it is going to be historic change.

The interim government had previously decided not to renew the contract with the current operator - Saif Powertec - which is set to expire on Sunday.

Chittagong Dry Dock Limited, formerly an enterprise of Bangladesh Steel & Engineering Corporation, was created as a complementary facility to Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) to cater regular and emergency repair needs of the national flag carrier vessels as well as vessels those touch Chittagong Port.

On 23rd December 2015, CDDL was handed over to Bangladesh Navy (BN) and now being operated under the management of BN as state owned limited company.

The CDDL will initially be responsible for managing NCT for six months under the direct procurement method.

"If everything goes well, international operators will be involved," Azad said.

Chittagong Port is the key seaport of Bangladesh handling about 92% of import-export trade of the country.

The New Mooring Container terminal (NCT) was constructed at a cost of Tk 737 crore with a 1000 metre long berth and back up facilities on 65 acres of land in view of the increasing trend of containerization in the maritime trade.

The NCT commenced vessel operation from May 2007.

Saif Powertec has been in charge of its management since the construction of the container terminal.