Chittagong Port handles 55,000 containers in seven days of Eid holidays

From Mar 17 to Mar 23, the port handled 2,508,614 tonnes of cargo and 64 vessels

Chittagong Port handled a total of 54,898 TEUs of containers, comprising both imports and exports, over the seven-day Eid holiday period.

From Mar 17 to Mar 23, the port processed 2,508,614 tonnes of cargo and serviced 64 vessels.

Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Syed Refat Hamim released these figures on Wednesday, saying the port maintained its operational capacity and continued cargo clearance and vessel handling without interruption despite the holidays.

“Although operations slowed somewhat on Eid day [Saturday], vessel and container handling increased over the following two days,” he said. “This achievement was made possible through the sincere efforts of all stakeholders and port officials and staff.”

According to port data, a total of 2,508,614 tonnes of bulk cargo were handled over the seven days, with 2,361,786 tonnes of imports and 146,828 tonnes of exports.

The highest single-day cargo handling was 434,434 tonnes on Wednesday.

During the same period, 54,898 TEUs (each equivalent to a 20-foot container) were handled, including 28,961 TEUs of import containers and 25,937 TEUs of export containers.

The highest daily container handling was recorded on Mar 18, with 11,861 TEUs.

A total of 64 vessels were berthed and handled, with the highest number --14 vessels -- on Thursday.

The port secretary added that although vessel waiting times had increased recently due to various reasons, they have now dropped to zero.

According to port data, against a yard capacity of 59,000 TEUs, there were 43,200 TEUs of containers in the yard as of Tuesday.

In the last 24 hours, 1,581 TEUs were delivered.