Arrival of foreign commercial ships increases at Mongla Port

The arrival of commercial ships from different foreign countries to the Mongla Port, the second-largest sea port in the country, has increased for the last couple of weeks, boosting its revenue earnings.

Sources at the Mongla Port Authority (MPA) said at least 42 foreign commercial ships anchored at the port in the first two weeks of the new year, coupled with the arrival of the container-carrying ships laden with goods.

For this reason, different levels of officers, employees and ship labourers are passing busy days. Revenue earnings have also increased due to the arrival of more ships compared to the previous years.

The port has been playing a vital role in the country's import-export business, the sources added.

Imported goods are being sent to different parts of the country easily as there are suitable route facilities of rivers, roads and railways.

Siddiqur Rahman, chief finance and accounts officer of the MPA, said the arrival of foreign commercial ships has increased since the beginning of this year compared to the previous times.

At present, 18-20 commercial ships laden with coal, fertilizer, clinker, LPG and stone remain anchored at different places of the Pashur channel regularly on average. So far, 42 ships reached the port during the period of 1-15 January.

He also said 413 commercial ships reached the port during the first six months of the current 2024-25 financial year and 10,386 TEUs containers were unloaded.

During the same time, ten vehicle-carrying ships with 5,637 vehicles were reached.

Import-export of 52,84,471 tonnes of goods was also done during the time, earning revenues worth Tk210 crore.

The import of reconditioned cars through Mongla Port has increased to a great extent as importers are getting interested in bringing automobiles to the country through the seaport.
 
Currently, importers are receiving delivery of around 70% of imported cars through the port. Last fiscal year, a new era was opened up in terms of earning revenue by importing 15,340 vehicles through the port.

Comparatively, the faster release of imported vehicles and the adequate space to keep those at the port yards are two main reasons for choosing port importers.
 
The stealing of vehicle parts has disappeared from the port yards due to flawless security measures provided by the port authority.

The imported automobiles can reach Dhaka in the shortest time, which is half of the previous time, due to the construction of Padma Bridge, he added.

Talking to BSS, Muhammad Makruzzaman, deputy director of the MPA, said various facilities, including unloading of vehicles from the port in a short span of time, construction of improved sheds and yards to house imported vehicles, and round-the-clock patrol and CCTV monitoring, ensuring vehicle safety were provided to the port users.

He said, "Importers have chosen the port as it saves both time and money."

Muhammad Makruzzaman also said 69 navigation buoys were installed for the unhindered movement of foreign ships in the sea channels. There are scopes of anchoring 47 ships in the jetty, mooring buoys, and anchorage simultaneously.

Apart from this, there are transit sheds, a warehouse, a container yard, 161 reefer plug points for the preservation of frozen foods, a car parking yard, 136 modern handling machines, and 32 supportive boats with tugboats for the convenience of importers and exporters.

MPA Chairman Rear Admiral Shaheen Rahman said businessmen prefer Mongla Port for importing vehicles as some mega projects were implemented here to ensure various types of facilities for exporters and importers.