Bangladesh Navy assumes control of NCT operations

Bangladesh Navy-Run CDDL Takes Over NCT Management

Chittagong Dry Dock Ltd (CDDL), a state-owned entity operated by the Bangladesh Navy, officially assumed management of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) on Monday.

The handover followed the signing of a six-month management agreement between the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and CDDL, confirmed CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk. The takeover took effect from midnight on Sunday, marking a significant shift in the terminal’s operations.

CDDL assumed control from Saif Powertec Limited under the Direct Procurement Method (DPM), following the expiry of the latter’s 17-year contract on July 6. While the Bangladesh Navy cannot directly manage the terminal due to technical constraints, it will oversee NCT’s operations through CDDL.

“This step is expected to reduce irregularities, break syndicate control within the port, improve operational efficiency, and increase revenue,” said Omar Faruk, calling the development a “historic milestone.”

He added that the Ministry of Shipping had instructed the CPA to proceed with the transfer of management to CDDL under the DPM framework. Following the directive, Navy-run CDDL began assuming responsibilities at the terminal, with both dry dock and port staff now engaged across all operational points.

“Container handling, delivery, and unloading are proceeding smoothly. Productivity remains satisfactory, and users anticipate faster, cost-effective operations,” Faruk noted.

The NCT, the country’s largest and most technologically advanced container terminal, can process over 30 containers per hour—significantly higher than the 17–18 moves per hour managed by other terminals. It currently handles around 1.2 to 1.3 million containers annually.

Spanning 65 acres with a 1,000-metre-long berth, the NCT includes five jetties capable of accommodating four ocean-going vessels and one inland waterway ship simultaneously. The terminal supports all key container operations, including loading, unloading, transfer, and delivery.

Saif Powertec had managed NCT since its inception in 2007. However, the interim government decided not to renew its contract after it expired.

CDDL, located within the Chattogram Port zone, was previously operated under Bangladesh Steel & Engineering Corporation and serves as a key ship repair facility. It was handed over to the Bangladesh Navy on December 23, 2015.

Chittagong Port handles approximately 92 percent of Bangladesh’s international trade. The NCT, built at a cost of Tk 737 crore, was launched to meet growing demand for containerized maritime commerce.