C T Online Desk: Two tugboats procured at a cost of around Tk 145.22 crore have arrived in the country to assist in safe berthing, unworthing and shifting of domestic and foreign ships engaged in import and export through the country’s main seaport.
Multiple sources have confirmed to media that two high capacity 5000 HP /60 ton bollard pool tugboats named ‘Kandari-3’ and ‘Kandari-4’ reached the waters of Bangladesh on Wednesday (June 15).
At night the tugboat will be at the outer harbor of the ports. It is expected to be brought to the port jetty on Thursday .
To this end, two tugboats have been identified at the newly constructed service jetty at berth No. 1 of the port. A team of 20 masters, Lashkar, EDL, ED, deck side and engine side team has been formed in the port’s naval department to carry out the operation activities of the two new tugs. They have also been given training.
The signing ceremony was held on March 14 at the meeting hall of Chittagong Port for the collection of two tugboats. Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority Rear Admiral M Shahjahan, Chairman of e-Engineering Limited, Local Agent of CHEOY LEE SHIPYARDS LTD Tarafdar Md. Ruhul Amin, CEO, Major (Retd.) Md. Serajus Salekin, Executive Director. Mahibullah Morshed, a member of the Chittagong Port Authority (Finance) said. Kamrul Amin, Member (Harbor and Marine) Commodore. Mostafizur Rahman, Member (Engineering), Capt. Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Deputy Conservator, Capt. Md. Faridul Alam, Secretary. Omar Farooq, Harbor Master, Captain. Zahirul Islam, Dock Master Captain. Abu Sufian, Chief Finance and Accounting Officer. Rafiqul Alam, Law Officer Muntasir Ahmed, Project Director Captain. Mostahidul Islam etc.
Chittagong Port Authority Secretary. Omar Farooq told New Nation that the main objective of the tugboat procurement project is to increase the capacity of Chittagong port to increase the capacity of comparatively large ships, projects undertaken in Chittagong port / Maheshkhali / Kutubdia area and increase berthing, unworthing and cargo handling capacity in jetties.
He said that through the implementation of this project, safe berthing, re-berthing assistance of large merchant ships, support for operational work of newly implemented Bay Terminal and Matarbari Terminal in Maheshkhali / Kutubdia area, enhanced safety assistance for ships arriving at Chittagong port It will be possible to achieve the targets of providing firefighting assistance to commercial vessels, assisting in conducting anti-river and environmental pollution activities, assisting commercial vessels in adverse weather conditions, providing naval protection to the Karnafuli Channel. The capacity of Chittagong port will be increased if the latest technology is added to the fleet to keep pace with the times which will play a significant role in meeting the future needs and will make a huge contribution to the revenue collection.
