First ship docks in Matarbari Deep-sea Port

The first ship has moored at the deep-sea port in Matarbari in Cox's Bazar.

The foreign ship reached the Matarbari Deep-sea Port as the authority conducted an experimental capacity test of the newly built port.

Loaded with steam generator parts, the Panama flag carrier "Venus Triumph" docked around 10:20am, sailing off from Indonesia's Pt. Pelabuhan Cilegon Mandiri port on December 22.

These apparatuses will be used for the coal-based power plant in that area, Mohammad Abul Kalam, director of state-owned Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh (CPGCBL), said.

The CPGCBL is implementing the coal-based power plant project in Matarbari.

The ship reached Matarbari early in the morning yesterday. Later around 10:20am, the vessel was brought to the temporary jetty of the power plant.

The ship is owned by Sea Shore Marine Private Limited, while Ancient Steamship Company Limited is working agent in Bangladesh.

With the aim to navigate the ship, the CPGCBL created a 14-kilometer channel with the width of 250 meter and depth of 18-meter. The ship entered into the channel from the Bay of Bengal.

The idea of the deep-sea port in Matarbari was conceived after the government started a coal-based power plant project in the area, as a wider channel and a port would be required to bring in the fuel for the plant.

The deep-sea port project worth Tk 17,777 crore got the approval from the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on March 10.

Export and import activities have increased significantly in recent years, so the country needs a deep-sea port to support the growing international trade and the economy, Planning Minister MA Mannan told journalists after the meeting on that day.

Officials concerned said the project is expected to be completed by 2025 to 2026.

Once it is completed, Matarbari will be the fourth port in Bangladesh. The Matarbari port will help the country handle rising volumes of exports and imports and ease the pressure on the Chattogram port, said officials concerned.

Under the project, a 26.7-kilometre approach road will be constructed. The approach road will be an elevated expressway.

Talking to journalists yesterday, Captain Ataul Siddique, assistant harbor master of Chattogram Port Authority, said, "It has now been proved that vessels can be moved through this channel and anchored in this jetty. The depth and width of this channel will be enlarged gradually. Now, maximum 320-meter long vessel can move through this channel."