The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has launched maintenance dredging operations in the Matarbari Deep Sea Port Channel to preserve navigability and ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of vessels.
According to a press release issued on Tuesday (16 June) by Nasir Uddin, Chief Personnel Officer of the CPA, coal-carrying vessels are currently using the Matarbari channel on a regular basis, while LNG carriers are also expected to begin regular operations in the near future. However, recent sediment accumulation has reduced navigable depths at several locations along the channel, making it necessary to restore and maintain the required draft.
In response, the port authority has undertaken urgent dredging work to recover the channel’s navigability and facilitate the safe passage of commercial and energy-carrying vessels.
The CPA said that an assessment of the channel’s existing morphological conditions and sediment transport patterns identified the Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) as the most suitable and effective equipment for the task.
Accordingly, dredging operations have commenced using the TSHD King Copper, owned by a Chinese company. The dredger will remove accumulated sediment from various sections of the channel and help restore and maintain the designated depth.
The port authority noted that the Matarbari Deep Sea Port is a strategically important infrastructure project for Bangladesh’s maritime trade, energy security, and economic growth. Maintaining the channel’s required navigability will enable large commercial vessels, coal carriers, and LNG ships to operate safely, thereby strengthening the country’s energy supply chain and supporting foreign trade activities.
The CPA further stated that it will continue all necessary measures to preserve the navigability of the Matarbari Deep Sea Port Channel and remains committed to enhancing the efficiency and capacity of the country’s seaport system.
