Fire Extinguished at NCT, Jetty Resumes Operations
Photo: Agamir Somoy
A fire that broke out in the yard of Jetty No. 3 at NCT in Chattogram Port was brought under control after 35 minutes. A team from the port’s own fire service reached the scene and succeeded in extinguishing the blaze at 3:20 pm on Monday. Cargo loading and unloading operations at the jetty resumed from 4:15 pm However, authorities have cordoned off Yard No. 3, where the fire broke out, to ensure safety.
The fire originated in the engine of a Rubber-Tyred Gantry Crane (RTG), a machine used to transfer containers. The blaze erupted in RTG No. 14 after it had transported containers unloaded from a vessel to the NCT yard. The intense heat damaged several nearby containers.
Among them, authorities have confirmed that goods inside a container loaded with imported products were burned. The container belongs to the world's leading shipping line, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). It arrived from China.
An official of the company told Agamir Somoy that the 40-foot container was loaded with Sharp-brand refrigerators. The container arrived on April 26, 2025. As the consignee failed to take delivery for an extended period, customs authorities had put it up for auction. The container was destroyed in the fire before it could be auctioned off.
An official who witnessed the incident said that after the fire broke out, workers opened the container and found that almost all of the refrigerators had been burned. The extent of the damage cannot yet be determined.
Chattogram Port Acting Secretary Nasir Uddin told Agamir Somoy that the heat from the fire partially damaged two adjacent containers. Cargo handling operations at NCT have resumed. The cause of the fire will be determined through an investigation.
