The Patenga Container Terminal at Chattogram Port has significantly strengthened its container handling capabilities following the addition of 14 new rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, a move expected to improve handling speed and overall operational efficiency.
The cranes, manufactured by Chinese engineering firm GENMA, were delivered in October and were formally handed over to Red Sea Gateway Terminal International (RSGTI), the Saudi operator of the terminal, on 15 December after the completion of commissioning.
The handover ceremony was attended by senior port and terminal officials, including the newly appointed Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Member (Engineering) Commodore Mazharul Islam Jewel, Bay Terminal Project Director Commodore Mahfuzur Rahman, RSGTI Chattogram Chief Operating Officer Any Lane, and GENMA Solutions General Manager Susan Zha. As part of the ceremony, Ms Zha presented a symbolic duplicate key to RSGTI to mark the official transfer of the equipment.
The development comes amid a marked improvement in terminal performance after a period of underwhelming throughput. The Patenga Container Terminal, which has been operated by RSGTI under a 22-year concession agreement since June last year, has recorded consistent growth in container handling volumes in recent months.
A key turning point was reached in May 2025, when RSGTI invested $3 million of its own funds to install an import container scanner—equipment that had not been provided by the National Board of Revenue. Between May and October, the terminal handled 108,228 TEUs, accounting for nearly two-thirds of its total cargo volume since operations began.
Monthly throughput reached a record high of 25,018 TEUs in October, following a dip to 17,337 TEUs in September. Vessel traffic has also increased, with seven ships berthing at the terminal in August alone, underlining growing confidence among shipping lines.
Despite the progress, utilisation levels remain below the terminal’s designed capacity. In October, operations stood at 49 per cent of the terminal’s potential monthly capacity of 41,700 TEUs. Port officials and RSGTI have attributed the gradual scale-up to the phased installation of equipment and the standard ramp-up period outlined in the concession agreement.
Commodore Mahfuzur Rahman praised RSGTI’s performance over the past 18 months, noting that, despite operating within a limited scope, the terminal has been managed in a structured and automated manner that offers valuable lessons for the port authority. He reaffirmed the CPA’s commitment to upgrading Chattogram Port to international standards and expressed confidence that RSGTI would continue expanding capacity while maintaining global operational benchmarks.
Syed Aref Sarwar, Head of Commercial and Public Affairs at RSGTI, said the addition of the 14 RTG cranes would significantly accelerate terminal operations. He added that once four gantry cranes are installed by the end of May next year, the terminal is expected to reach full operational capacity.
