Russian ship with Rooppur power plant machinery reaches Mongla port

A Russian flag-carrier ship, MV Melina, has arrived at Mongla Seaport with goods for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP). The vessel, carrying general machinery for the RNPP, anchored at Jetty No. 9 on Friday (10 January) and departed after unloading its cargo. 

Muhammad Makruzzaman, deputy director of Mongla Port Authority (MPA), confirmed to BSS that the goods will be transported to the RNPP by road. 

He added that machinery and other goods for the nuclear plant have been imported through Mongla Port since the project's inception, and this delivery involved a large amount of general machinery. 

Makruzzaman also noted a significant increase in the arrival of foreign commercial ships at the port since the beginning of the year. 

At present, 18 commercial vessels, carrying cargo such as coal, gypsum, DAP, TSP, MOP, clinker, LPG, and various container goods, remain docked at different points within the port.

In the first half of the 2024-25 fiscal year, Mongla Port handled 413 commercial ships, along with 10,386 TEUs of container traffic. Additionally, 5,637 vehicles were imported through 10 vehicle-carrying ships. 

A total of 5,284,471 tonnes of goods were imported and exported, contributing Tk210 crore in revenue for the port.

To ensure smooth operations, 69 navigation buoys have been installed for the unhindered movement of foreign vessels through the sea channels. The port has the capacity to anchor 47 ships across its jetty, mooring buoys, and anchorage.

The port is also equipped with transit sheds, a warehouse, a container yard, 161 reefer plug points for storing frozen foods, a car parking area, 136 modern handling machines, and 32 supportive boats with tugboats, all designed to support the needs of importers and exporters.