First cargo ship reaches Matarbari deep seaport

The Venus Triumph, a cargo ship loaded with construction materials for the coal-based power project, has reached the deep seaport at Matarbari using the channel for the first time. 

Sending the ship bearing the flag of Panama sailing through Matarbari channel was part of an experimental capacity test of the newly built port by the authority.

All construction materials for the coal-based power project will be sent using this channel, Harbour Master Captain Ataul Hakim Siddique of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) said Wednesday morning. 

He also said that another ship will use the channel to carry construction materials for the coal power plant on January 5.

The length of the channel from the Bay of Bengal to Matarbari Coal Power Station is about 14 kilometres while the length of the ship Venus Triumph is 120 meters and the draft (underwater part of the ship) is 5.3 meters, said Port Secretary Omar Farooq.

The pilots of CPA took the ship to the jetty of the power station after reaching the deep seaport of Matarbari.

The construction cost of the deep seaport at Matarbari is estimated to be Tk18,006 crore. Japan is providing Tk12,792.7 crore for this project as loan. 

The government is giving Tk2,061.15 crore and CPA is giving Tk2,213.24 crore respectively.

The projects started by the Ministry of Shipping in collaboration with CPA and the Roads and Highways Department. The projects are designed by Japanese experts.