Emergency maintenance dredging operations have commenced at Matarbari, the country’s only deep sea port, to ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of ships through its channel. Under the supervision of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), silt removal operations are being carried out using a state-of-the-art dredger.
Currently, coal-carrying vessels regularly utilize the Matarbari deep sea port channel. There is a strong possibility that large ships carrying Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) will also begin operating here in the near future. However, recent heavy siltation has reduced the navigability (depth) at various points along the channel. As a result, this emergency dredging initiative has been undertaken to guarantee the safe navigation of commercial and fuel-bearing vessels.
After thoroughly analyzing the current morphological conditions and siltation patterns of the Matarbari channel, experts indicated that a Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) is the most suitable and effective tool for this channel.
Following this recommendation, “TSHD King Copper,” a powerful dredger owned by a China-based company, has been deployed for the task. The dredger has already begun removing silt from various parts of the channel to restore its designated depth.
The Matarbari Deep Sea Port is a highly crucial and strategic infrastructure for Bangladesh’s maritime trade, overall economic growth, and national energy security.
Maintaining the designated navigability of the channel will allow large-scale commercial, coal, and LNG vessels to berth at the port without any risk. The safe arrival of large ships will keep the country’s energy supply chain uninterrupted and further accelerate foreign trade activities.
The Chittagong Port Authority remains fully committed to enhancing the efficiency and capacity of the country’s seaport system and will continue all necessary activities to maintain the navigability of the Matarbari deep sea port channel with the cooperation of all stakeholders.
