Chittagong Port seeks to expand its maritime jurisdiction area

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has proposed expanding the maritime jurisdiction area of Chittagong Port on the north by 10 nautical miles to ease anchorage congestion and improve navigational safety.

The CPA recently sent the proposal to the Ministry of Shipping, seeking to extend the jurisdiction from the existing limit near Fauzdarhat to the National Special Economic Zone at Mirsarai in Chattogram.

The proposal came months after a series of collisions at the port’s outer anchorage prompted growing concern among maritime experts and international mariners over congestion.

According to the proposal, the CPA would extend its jurisdiction north of the existing anchorage and create additional anchorage areas to distribute vessel traffic more efficiently. The CPA is also studying the feasibility of establishing a completely new anchorage in the proposed area, while the existing Alpha Anchorage could be extended three to four nautical miles northward. The northern section of the Sandwip Channel has natural water depths of around seven to eight metres, making it suitable for accommodating additional vessels, including mother vessels, lighter vessels, scrap carriers and fuel tankers.

The water territory is naturally protected by the Sandwip Channel, offering safer anchorage for lighter vessels than the existing outer anchorage, which remains exposed to rough weather and strong tidal currents.

CPA officials said that bringing the proposed maritime water territory under Chittagong Port’s legal jurisdiction is essential before it can undertake dredging, construct jetties, establish anchorage facilities or provide security and other port services there.