CHATTOGRAM, Jan 11: The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has extended the appointment of Saif Powertech, operator of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) for another six months until appointing a new contractor, said Muhammad Omar Faruk, Secretary of CPA.
The CPA plans to appoint a foreign terminal operator for NCT through an open tender process, he said.
As the contract with Saif Powertec expired on 7 January, its contract has been extended until appointing a new contractor, he said.
As operation of the terminal cannot be halted, so Saif Powertec has been allowed to operate it under existing terms and rates.
The fallen Awami League government wnted to lease the terminal to a foreign operator under government-to-government agreement. For this purpose, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Authority was tasked to negotiate with Dubai-based DP World.
The New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) consists of five berths to facilitate berthing ships up to 200 metres in length and 10-metre draft.
It includes a 292,287-square-metre container storage yard, 700 reefer plugs for refrigerated containers and annual handling capacity of 1.19 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units).
Saif PowerTech handled containers and containerised cargo at the Chattogram Container Terminal (CCT) and New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), two specialised terminals of the port. The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on August 28, 2019 approved appointment of Saif Powertec Limited as the terminal operator for handing the containers and container-laden cargos at Chattogram Port for six years.
Besides, Bangladesh government has taken a decision to appoint foreign operators for New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). The CCEA approved the appointment of an international standard private operator for the operation and maintenance of the NCT and Overflow Container Yard in line with the Procurement Guidelines for PPP Project, 2018.
Currently, a total of 12 container ships can take berth at Chattogram Port at a time.
Aappointment of Saif Powertech as NCT operation will end on January 7. The New Mooring Container Terminal handles over 60 per cent of Chattogram port's containers.
According to PPP Authority sources, the feasibility study of NCT is expected to be completed by June.
On completion of study, PPP Authority will appoint of a foreign operator.
In the meantime, CPA is preparing to float an open tender to appoint a temporary operator for New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) until appointing a new operator.
The NCT, with its five container jetties, handles over 60 per cent of Chattogram Port's containers.
