Chinese ship docks at Payra Port after two years
Chinese ship ‘Fang Zhou 6’ at Payra Port. Photo: Collected
After nearly two years, a Chinese ship named ‘Fang Zhou 6’ has directly docked at the first terminal of Payra Port in Patuakhali. The 168 meter long ship has brought five advanced cargo handling equipment items for the port.
The ship docked at the first terminal of Payra Port at around 11:30 am Wednesday. Earlier, ‘Fang Zhou 6’ began its journey for Payra from China’s Pingtan Port on September 18.
The equipment brought to make cargo and container handling operations at the port more modern and faster include two quay gantry cranes with a capacity of 80 tons each, two rubber tired gantry cranes with a capacity of 40 tons each and one mobile harbor crane with a capacity of 80 tons.
The port authorities said the addition of the new equipment will increase the capacity for loading and unloading goods at the first terminal. At the same time, it will reduce the time required for cargo and container handling and further strengthen technology based management.
Payra Port Chairman Rear Admiral Syed Saif-ul-Islam said the addition of five advanced cargo handling equipment items is gradually taking the port toward full capacity. Construction of a dedicated yard and shed for vehicle imports has already been completed. With the addition of the new cranes, the 650 meter multipurpose berth has also reached full capacity.
He further said Payra Port can be fully operational if navigability can be maintained. Technology based cargo management will increase the port’s operational capacity and further facilitate its development as an international standard port.
Earlier, two mother vessels directly docked at the first terminal of Payra Port and unloaded goods. ‘MV Zain’ arrived with 50,000 tons of stone on May 15, 2024, while ‘MV Da Hong 16’ arrived with 48,000 tons of stone on November 1 of the same year.
However, the navigability crisis in the Rabnabad Channel remains one of the major challenges to the regular operations of Payra Port. The authorities said various initiatives are being taken to modernize and digitalize the port alongside dredging to maintain navigability.
