New Mooring Terminal logs highest-ever monthly throughput in August
New Mooring Terminal also saw its busiest days ever last month
Chattogram Port's New Mooring Container Terminal handled 1,22,517 TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) in August, the highest monthly container throughput in its history.
The figure, covering 75,587 boxes, far exceeded the terminal's usual monthly average of around 1,00,000 TEUs.
The record came under the management of Bangladesh Navy-run Chattogram Dry Dock Limited, which took charge of berths 2, 3, 4, and 5 in early July.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
New Mooring Terminal also saw its busiest days ever last month. On 28 August, Chattogram Dry Dock moved 5,019 TEUs in a single day – a record that was broken just three days later with 5,061 TEUs handled.
Port officials said Chattogram Dry Dock's management has improved ship turnaround, container delivery, customs appraisal, and gate operations, with an experienced workforce ensuring faster and smoother activity.
"This achievement will accelerate trade and send a strong message to global investors about Bangladesh's improving port efficiency," said Omar Faruk, secretary of Chattogram Port Authority. He added that the gains are expected to contribute to the country's broader economic growth.
Chattogram Port handles over 90% of Bangladesh's international trade and is widely considered the lifeline of the economy. New Mooring Terminal, inaugurated in 2007 with five berths, is the largest container facility at the port.
For years, the port has struggled with congestion, vessel delays, and slow container delivery, drawing criticism from businesses and international shipping lines. On several occasions, ships had to wait days at the outer anchorage to berth, raising costs for exporters and importers alike.
Global benchmarks have reflected these challenges. In the Lloyd List, Chattogram Port has consistently ranked in the lower tier, slipping one notch to 68th in the 2024 edition. The government has been pushing for operational reforms and public-private partnerships to raise efficiency and restore competitiveness.
The decision to hand over New Mooring Terminal to Chattogram Dry Dock, a state-owned enterprise with prior experience in shipbuilding and dockyard operations, was part of this reform drive. Authorities hope the new management will help cut vessel turnaround times, boost container handling, and reposition Chattogram Port as a more reliable regional hub.
