The Mongla Port Authority is set to get six modern vessels at a cost of Tk767 crore aiming to enhance its convenience and capacity.
Among the six vessels, two tugboats built at Cheoy Lee Shipyard in Hong Kong will arrive at the port at the end of the incumbent year and the rest four vessels will be added to the port in June next year as they are being made in Bangladesh.
Among them, Search and Rescue (SAR) Vessel is being built at Khulna Shipyard, and the remaining three are being built at Karnafuly Shipyard in Narayanganj, said Mongla Port Authority Chief Engineer (Marine) Commander Momen Ullah Mohammad Ziaul Islam.
Mongla, the second largest seaport of Bangladesh, was established in 1950 and had been incurring losses for the last several years.
These vessels are being purchased under the project titled "Upgradation of Mongla Port", and consultants have been appointed for this work through international tender. The six vessels are - a pilot mother vessel, two tugboats, a search and rescue (SAR) vessel, a survey and research vessel and a boiling vessel, Ziaul Islam said.
Among them, Tk 191.28 crore will be spent on the construction of the pilot mother vessel. This vessel will make it easier to bring the pilots and foreign sailors from the mother vessels to the river bank, he said, adding that “Besides, this ship can be also used for enhancing the security of the port, if necessary”
Two tugboats that will reach at the end of this year were purchased at Tk 233.38 crore and those will help to move and turn ships at the port. Besides, these boats will be also used to tow the mother vessels (foreign ships) with the propeller off and to tow the distressed ship and act as a helper to other vessels.
Besides, Tk 113.44 crores are being spent for the purchase of a Search and Rescue vessel that can assist the salvage operation to locate the ships in distress at sea and rescue the sailors and others.
Besides, this vessel will help to reduce damage to the ships hit by various natural calamities like storms and floods, said the port authorities.
Md Zahirul Haque, chief planning officer of Mongla Port Authority, said that the survey and research vessel will be used for research-related issues of the port and this ship will also be added to the Mongla port next year. This ship was purchased at Tk 113.44 crore for different survey and research works on the sea and sea animals.
The modern boiling vessel is being purchased at Tk 126.37 crore for placement of buoys in the port channel and giving signals which will potentially save time, he said.
Mongla Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Mir Ershad Ali said, "The Port’s capacity will multiply after these vessels are added to the port. If everything goes well, two vessels this year and four next year will be added to the Mongla port,” he said.
