Deep sea-port to raise cargo handling ten times: shipping Minister
July 15, 2009 · Leave a Comment
:: The Daily Independent Bangladesh :.. Internet Edition
Deep sea-port to raise cargo handling ten times: shipping Minister
BSS, DHAKA
Cargo handling in the country would increase to 325.26 million tonnes in 2055 from 33.77 million in 2010, rising by 10 times, with completion of the deep seaport at Sonadia Island at Cox’s Bazar.
The construction of the proposed deep seaport costing Taka 60,000 crore would start in 2010 and to be completed in three phases by 2055. The construction of the first phase with an involvement of Taka 13,000 crore will be completed by 2015 and it would start operation by 2016.
Shipping Minister Md Afsarul Ameen said this while briefing journalists after a meeting of nine-member inter-ministerial committee on deep seaport held at the conference room of the Shipping Ministry here yesterday.
The deep seaport, after completion of its first phase, would contribute a lot in the country’s economy as it would reduce transport charges for both import and export goods, save time for exportable, raise revenue of the government ten times and generate employment.
“Sonadia deep seaport would contribute to the growth of the national economy of Bangladesh, the Minister said adding the deep seaport would expand maritime international trade and would compliment existing ports with new capacity making them capable of accommodating larger vessels.
Sonadia site earlier was selected as the site of constructing the deep seaport as its geographical location offers real opportunities to play an important role in the regional trade and act as a gateway for the region to the rest of the world.
It is expected that the deep seaport would raise number of cargo handling every year to 74,146,000 tonnes in 2020 from 33,769,000 tonnes in 2010, which will rise further to 121,146,000 tonnes in 2030, 185,268,000 in 2040, 269,216,000 tonnes in 2050 and 325,258,000 tonnes in 2055.
A total of 36.01 million bulk cargoes, 28.93 million general cargoes, 8 million new users and 1.20 million transit cargoes would be handled annually at the deep seaport in 2020, while it would rise to 158.50 million for bulk cargo, 148.60 million general cargo, 8.80 million new users and 9.27 million transit cargo would be handled annually by 2055, he said.
In the first phase of the project (short term development), general cargo terminals, north breakwater, south breakwater and international container terminals would be constructed by 2015 costing Taka 13,000 crore.
In the second phase (medium term development), another general cargo terminal, IW terminals and harbor crafts berths, international container terminals and land spaces for non-cargo handling facilities would be constructed by 2035 with a cost of Taka 26,000 crore.
The long term development of the deep seaport (3rd phase) would be completed by 2055, involving Taka 21,000 crore, the Minister said.
The port would contain five international container berths, 4 international goods cargo berths, five IW container berths, two IW goods container berths, 1000 meters harbor crafts berth, 400 meters wide and 14 to 16 meter deep approach channel, 500 meter wide 14 to 16 meter wide turning basin, Dr Afsarul Ameen said.
The mother vessels would be able to anchor at the Sonadfia deep seaport carrying both import and export items in and from the country and at this time and cost on carrying those would be reduced, the Minister said adding at present, our export and import items are loaded and up loaded through feeder vessels at Singapore port.
“The costs of imported items would come down as the transport cost would reduce and at the same time, shipment of exportable items, especially readymade garments would be made timely,” he added.
The techno-economic feasibility study final report submitted to the committee was evaluated at the meeting today and it, along with technical evaluation committee report, would be sent to Cabinet Economic Committee for approval of detail design of the project.
Of the total cost of the project, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) would provide 30 per cent and the rest 70 per cent
would be funded through public-private partnership (PPP), he added.
Afsarul Ameen chaired the meeting. Cabinet Secretary M Abdul Aziz, Secretary of Prime Minister’s Office Md Abdul Karim, Finance Secretary Dr Mohammad Tareque, Shipping Secretary Md Masud Elahi, ERD Secretary M Mosharraf Hossain, Chairman of the CPA Comodore RU Ahmed, Chairman of Mongla Port Authority Comodore M Farooqu, Infrastructure Division Chief of Planning Commission Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Chairman of securities and exchange Commission (SEC) Md Ziaul Haque attended the meeting.
Deep sea-port to raise cargo handling ten times: shipping Minister Bangladesh Economic News