Container handling briefly halted as fire broke out at Ctg port's NCT
The blaze has been brought under control and no casualties have been reported at the time of filing this report
A fire broke out at the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chattogram Port this afternoon (22 June), temporarily disrupting container handling activities at one of the terminal's berths.
Confirming the incident, Chattogram Port's Acting Secretary Nasir Uddin said the port's own firefighting unit responded immediately after the fire broke out.
"Around 2:30pm, a fire erupted in RTG 4014 at Berth No 4 in the southern area of the NCT. Personnel from the Chattogram Port Fire Service quickly reached the spot and began firefighting operations," he said.
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According to port officials, the blaze originated in the engine compartment of a Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) crane, a vital piece of equipment used for moving containers within the terminal.
Following the fire, container handling operations at the berth were suspended as a precautionary measure.
Witnesses said flames spread in the yard area adjacent to the berth, with several cargo containers reportedly catching fire.
Nasir Uddin added that teams from the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, along with the Bangladesh Navy, later joined the operation and successfully brought the blaze under control.
"The overall situation is now normal," he said.
The exact cause of the fire could not be determined immediately. Chattogram Port authorities said an investigation would be conducted once firefighting and recovery operations are fully completed.
No casualties were reported and the extent of damage to the RTG crane and affected containers is yet to be assessed at the time of filing this report.
