Ctg Port posts unprecedented performance since Aug 2024

Chattogram Port accelerates operations with faster vessel handling and digital upgrades

Thebangladaily.com – Chattogram Port has strengthened its role as Bangladesh’s principal maritime gateway through faster cargo movement, expanded equipment capacity, new digital services and major terminal development projects. Between August 2024 and September 20, 2026, the port handled 7.27 million TEUs of containers, processed 287.16 million metric tonnes of cargo and received 8,990 ships.

Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), said the gains covered operational performance, infrastructure, security, digitalisation and revenue generation. The improvements are particularly important for importers, exporters and industries that depend on predictable shipping schedules and lower logistics costs.

One of the clearest changes has been the sharp reduction in waiting time for container vessels. Ships seeking berths at the port’s jetties waited roughly three days at anchorage in September 2024. By September 2026, that delay had been reduced to almost nothing. Shorter anchorage periods can help businesses avoid demurrage expenses and improve the reliability of supply chains.

Container-vessel turnaround also became faster, falling from 2.53 days in September 2024 to 2.23 days two years later. This measure reflects the time a vessel spends in port and is closely watched because it affects shipping costs, berth availability and delivery schedules.

Growth continues through 2026

The port maintained positive growth during the first nine months of 2026. Cargo handling from January through September reached 103.24 million tonnes, up 0.52 percent from 102.70 million tonnes in the same months of 2025. Container throughput rose 2.25 percent to 2.62 million TEUs, while ship calls increased 2.69 percent to 3,246.

Average turnaround time for container ships improved over the same comparison period, declining from 2.58 days to 2.25 days. The figures show that the port was handling a larger flow of vessels and containers while reducing the time ships spent within the system.

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2026-27, cargo operations rose 1.85 percent year-on-year to 33.53 million tonnes. Vessel arrivals climbed 2.13 percent to 1,053, while container movement reached 863,278 TEUs. Turnaround time during the quarter fell from 2.63 days to 2.21 days.

More handling equipment and terminal capacity

Equipment availability has been a key part of the port’s operational strategy. In June 2026, the CPA completed a Tk1,087.28 crore procurement programme that added 81 heavy cargo-handling machines. Equipment availability increased from 70 percent to 80 percent, and the New Mooring Container Terminal was able to meet its full demand for gantry cranes.

The additional machinery helped bring vessel waiting time down from 60 hours to 48 hours. For exporters, including businesses in the ready-made garment sector, shorter port lead times can make it easier to meet shipment deadlines and coordinate with overseas buyers.

Longer-term expansion is advancing at several locations. At Matarbari, land acquisition for the first phase has been completed. Work is under way on civil components such as a geotube dam, sand filling and ground improvement.

The Bay Terminal project has also moved forward with a $650 million concessional loan from the World Bank. Authorities acquired 500.701 acres of land at a nominal cost. Development of marine infrastructure is expected to support climate-resilient breakwater construction, an important consideration for facilities exposed to coastal conditions.

At Laldia, the CPA signed a concession agreement with Denmark’s APM Terminals. The site was handed over in April, formal construction began on August 30, and operations are targeted for 2030.

Paperless services and stronger security

The CPA has expanded its digital platform through Port Single Window and CPA SKY, bringing services such as no-objection certificates, electronic gate passes, delivery orders, billing and payments into online systems. The port has also upgraded its Terminal Operating System and linked it with ASYCUDA World.

Paperless vessel NOCs and online gate passes have been introduced as part of the broader shift away from manual procedures. From November 1, 2026, container bills are set to be processed fully online through mandatory banking channels. The move is intended to make transactions more traceable and reduce delays associated with paper-based processing.

Chattogram Port has been designated Critical Information Infrastructure and has installed a cybersecurity system capable of continuous threat detection and monitoring. The CPA said the port recorded zero observations in a US Coast Guard International Port Security Audit, indicating compliance with international port-security requirements.

Restricted zones are now covered by a smart access-control system using facial recognition and RFID technology. In January 2026, the port also held a joint anti-terrorism exercise involving armed forces personnel and law-enforcement agencies.

Green plans, land revenue and hazardous cargo removal

The authority is pursuing rooftop solar projects and preparing a long-term Green Strategy designed to reduce dependence on grid electricity and cut carbon emissions. These initiatives place environmental planning alongside the port’s capacity and efficiency goals.

The CPA has also sought to raise returns from port-owned land through competitive leasing and the removal of illegal encroachments. Officials said rental income from land has risen by as much as 17 times, with cumulative earnings projected at Tk700 crore.

Another ongoing task involves hazardous materials left inside 29 containers since 2003. A special operation was launched to remove the chemicals, beginning with nine containers in the first phase. The effort addresses a long-standing safety issue while supporting the port’s wider focus on secure and efficient operations.