China eyes Mongla seaport operations management

[Black_cats]

China eyes Mongla seaport operations management​

BD second-largest port holds huge regional potential​

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MIR MOSTAFIZUR RAHAMAN | June 16, 2022 00:00:00

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China is actively considering Bangladesh's request for funding modernisation of the Mongla Seaport but wants operations management of the port having potential to become an international shipping hub.

Officials say Beijing awaits response on proposed 'integrated approach to implementation, operation, maintenance and management of the project'.

Bangladesh sent a proposal to China in April 2019 through a preliminary loan application for funding the project titled 'Expansion and modernisation of Mongla Port facilities'.

The estimated cost of the project is 350 million US dollars.

"China had recently carried out evaluation of the project and is very much eager and positive about the project," says one official concerned.

Chinese authorities articulated interest in the integrated approach to construction, implementation, maintenance and management of the project, competent sources said, referring to communication between the Bangladesh Embassy in Beijing and the foreign ministry high-ups.

"This implies that they are still awaiting decision from the government of Bangladesh as to the management, maintenance, and operation of the project are concerned," a letter to the foreign ministry says.

Shipping ministry officials said that they were yet to get any feedback on the port-uplift venture.

According to the officials, the loan application is under active consideration by China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), the ODA arm and soft-loan window of the Chinese government.

Bangladesh highlighted importance of the port- modernisation project in a recent meeting with CIDCA officials, saying that the project will contribute to backing up the Bangladesh China India and Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM) on the sub-regional plane.

The CIDCA officials were told that being the second-largest port of the country, the Mongla Port stands in an important position and can support international and regional trade.

Entire western part of Bangladesh and its adjoining areas are considered hinterland and it has a unique opportunity to play a vital role in the arena of international and regional trade and economy, Bangladeshi officials told their Chinese counterparts narrating the importance of the project.

The Mongla Port Authority (MPA) signed an MoU with China National Complete Engineering Corporation (CNCEC) on August 12, 2015. Later, an agreement was inked with the company on October 6, 2016.

But the company stopped communication with the MPA in 2019, prompting the MPA to scrap the deal.

Later, the MPA signed an agreement with another Chinese company - China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).

Meanwhile, the MPA recently registered a record in terms of ship arrival, cargo handling, and revenue earning.

In 2020, the port saw a turnout of 970 ships, the highest in its 70-year history. It earned a profit of Tk 1.30 billion from the limited-scale port operations.

Following construction of many mega-infrastructures particularly in Bangladesh's southern part, especially the Padma Bridge, the port's importance has increased manifold with vistas of opportunities in trade and connectivity opening up.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com

China eyes Mongla seaport operations management

China is actively considering Bangladesh's request for funding modernisation of the Mongla Seaport but wants operations management of the port having potential to become an international shipping hub. Officials say Beijing awaits response on proposed 'integrated approach to implementation...

today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd

 

[bluesky]

China eyes Mongla seaport operations management​

BD second-largest port holds huge regional potential​

---

MIR MOSTAFIZUR RAHAMAN | June 16, 2022 00:00:00

---

China is actively considering Bangladesh's request for funding modernisation of the Mongla Seaport but wants operations management of the port having potential to become an international shipping hub.

Officials say Beijing awaits response on proposed 'integrated approach to implementation, operation, maintenance and management of the project'.

Bangladesh sent a proposal to China in April 2019 through a preliminary loan application for funding the project titled 'Expansion and modernisation of Mongla Port facilities'.

The estimated cost of the project is 350 million US dollars.

"China had recently carried out evaluation of the project and is very much eager and positive about the project," says one official concerned.

Chinese authorities articulated interest in the integrated approach to construction, implementation, maintenance and management of the project, competent sources said, referring to communication between the Bangladesh Embassy in Beijing and the foreign ministry high-ups.

"This implies that they are still awaiting decision from the government of Bangladesh as to the management, maintenance, and operation of the project are concerned," a letter to the foreign ministry says.

Shipping ministry officials said that they were yet to get any feedback on the port-uplift venture.

According to the officials, the loan application is under active consideration by China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), the ODA arm and soft-loan window of the Chinese government.

Bangladesh highlighted importance of the port- modernisation project in a recent meeting with CIDCA officials, saying that the project will contribute to backing up the Bangladesh China India and Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM) on the sub-regional plane.

The CIDCA officials were told that being the second-largest port of the country, the Mongla Port stands in an important position and can support international and regional trade.

Entire western part of Bangladesh and its adjoining areas are considered hinterland and it has a unique opportunity to play a vital role in the arena of international and regional trade and economy, Bangladeshi officials told their Chinese counterparts narrating the importance of the project.

The Mongla Port Authority (MPA) signed an MoU with China National Complete Engineering Corporation (CNCEC) on August 12, 2015. Later, an agreement was inked with the company on October 6, 2016.

But the company stopped communication with the MPA in 2019, prompting the MPA to scrap the deal.

Later, the MPA signed an agreement with another Chinese company - China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).

Meanwhile, the MPA recently registered a record in terms of ship arrival, cargo handling, and revenue earning.

In 2020, the port saw a turnout of 970 ships, the highest in its 70-year history. It earned a profit of Tk 1.30 billion from the limited-scale port operations.

Following construction of many mega-infrastructures particularly in Bangladesh's southern part, especially the Padma Bridge, the port's importance has increased manifold with vistas of opportunities in trade and connectivity opening up.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com

China eyes Mongla seaport operations management

China is actively considering Bangladesh's request for funding modernisation of the Mongla Seaport but wants operations management of the port having potential to become an international shipping hub. Officials say Beijing awaits response on proposed 'integrated approach to implementation...

today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd

I am unable to understand what for China is really interested to operate Mongla Port. Except that it will antagonize India because of its location only more than 100 km from the Indian border.

I do not understand what may be the other reasons.

 

[mb444]

China eyes Mongla seaport operations management​

BD second-largest port holds huge regional potential​

---

MIR MOSTAFIZUR RAHAMAN | June 16, 2022 00:00:00

---

China is actively considering Bangladesh's request for funding modernisation of the Mongla Seaport but wants operations management of the port having potential to become an international shipping hub.

Officials say Beijing awaits response on proposed 'integrated approach to implementation, operation, maintenance and management of the project'.

Bangladesh sent a proposal to China in April 2019 through a preliminary loan application for funding the project titled 'Expansion and modernisation of Mongla Port facilities'.

The estimated cost of the project is 350 million US dollars.

"China had recently carried out evaluation of the project and is very much eager and positive about the project," says one official concerned.

Chinese authorities articulated interest in the integrated approach to construction, implementation, maintenance and management of the project, competent sources said, referring to communication between the Bangladesh Embassy in Beijing and the foreign ministry high-ups.

"This implies that they are still awaiting decision from the government of Bangladesh as to the management, maintenance, and operation of the project are concerned," a letter to the foreign ministry says.

Shipping ministry officials said that they were yet to get any feedback on the port-uplift venture.

According to the officials, the loan application is under active consideration by China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), the ODA arm and soft-loan window of the Chinese government.

Bangladesh highlighted importance of the port- modernisation project in a recent meeting with CIDCA officials, saying that the project will contribute to backing up the Bangladesh China India and Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM) on the sub-regional plane.

The CIDCA officials were told that being the second-largest port of the country, the Mongla Port stands in an important position and can support international and regional trade.

Entire western part of Bangladesh and its adjoining areas are considered hinterland and it has a unique opportunity to play a vital role in the arena of international and regional trade and economy, Bangladeshi officials told their Chinese counterparts narrating the importance of the project.

The Mongla Port Authority (MPA) signed an MoU with China National Complete Engineering Corporation (CNCEC) on August 12, 2015. Later, an agreement was inked with the company on October 6, 2016.

But the company stopped communication with the MPA in 2019, prompting the MPA to scrap the deal.

Later, the MPA signed an agreement with another Chinese company - China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).

Meanwhile, the MPA recently registered a record in terms of ship arrival, cargo handling, and revenue earning.

In 2020, the port saw a turnout of 970 ships, the highest in its 70-year history. It earned a profit of Tk 1.30 billion from the limited-scale port operations.

Following construction of many mega-infrastructures particularly in Bangladesh's southern part, especially the Padma Bridge, the port's importance has increased manifold with vistas of opportunities in trade and connectivity opening up.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com

China eyes Mongla seaport operations management

China is actively considering Bangladesh's request for funding modernisation of the Mongla Seaport but wants operations management of the port having potential to become an international shipping hub. Officials say Beijing awaits response on proposed 'integrated approach to implementation...

today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Operations of critical infrastructure should be controlled by BD, so this should be rejected outright.

There are other sources of loans. We may need to wait before implementing but at no point allowing foreign control should be considered a valid option.

 

[Bilal9]

I am unable to understand what for China is really interested to operate Mongla Port. Except that it will antagonize India because of its location only more than 100 km from the Indian border.

I do not understand what may be the other reasons.

Mongla has lots of potential for placing EPZs around the port and placing Chinese businesses in there.

There are already three export zones around the port.

Padma bridge will ease transport to Mongla for container export from Dhaka, as an alternative to Chittagong. However only 20' containers can be carried on Padma Bridge, my understanding. There may be a weight restriction on the bridge for trucks above thirty tons. Those will need to go by ferry.

Mongla will need dredging for the shipping channel (to make it deeper draft) in the Pussur river which has already started.

We can't do anything if we constantly worry about antagonizing Indians.

Did they worry about antagonizing Bangladesh when they put in dams on Teesta and Farakka? Or call us termites? Or stop exports of essentials to Bangladesh without notice?

 

[Bilal9]

Operations of critical infrastructure should be controlled by BD, so this should be rejected outright.

There are other sources of loans. We may need to wait before implementing but at no point allowing foreign control should be considered a valid option.

Port operations (for short five year terms) should be given to professionals who have way better expertise than the Navy people currently assigned at Mongla. Not giving away control forever. Contract stipulations should guarantee this.

Port of Singapore, Rotterdam, or in this case CIDCA and CCECC from China have much more experience in port operations than any entity in Bangladesh.

They will bring in professionalism to Mongla.

CTG is at or near capacity, even with expanded docks and jetties. Mongla is largely unutilized, though growing quite a bit.

 

[mb444]

Port operations (for short five year terms) should be given to professionals who have way better expertise than the Navy people currently assigned at Mongla. Not giving away control forever. Contract stipulations should guarantee this.

Port of Singapore, Rotterdam, or in this case CIDCA and CCECC from China have much more experience in port operations than any entity in Bangladesh.

They will bring in professionalism to Mongla.

CTG is at or near capacity, even with expanded docks and jetties. Mongla is largely unutilized, though growing quite a bit.

Bring in consultants by all means, learn from them. But ultimate control and decision making ability should never be relinquished even for a day.

Let the chinese manage but give ultimate authority to the navy/coast guard officers if necessary.

 

[damiendehorn2]

Mongla has lots of potential for placing EPZs around the port and placing Chinese businesses in there.

There are already three export zones around the port.

Padma bridge will ease transport to Mongla for container export from Dhaka, as an alternative to Chittagong. However only 20' containers can be carried on Padma Bridge, my understanding. There may be a weight restriction on the bridge for trucks above thirty tons. Those will need to go by ferry.

Mongla will need dredging for the shipping channel (to make it deeper draft) in the Pussur river which has already started.

We can't do anything if we constantly worry about antagonizing Indians.

Did they worry about antagonizing Bangladesh when they put in dams on Teesta and Farakka? Or call us termites? Or stop exports of essentials to Bangladesh without notice?

Well said, Why should we care about indian interests when they don't care about our interests.

 

[fallstuff]

Bring in consultants by all means, learn from them. But ultimate control and decision making ability should never be relinquished even for a day.

Let the chinese manage but give ultimate authority to the navy/coast guard officers if necessary.

I say the same thing in building Bridges, hire consultants to guide the local engineers.

 

[fallstuff]

No one designs Bridges with pencil , ruler, and T squares anymore, everyone uses modeling software.

 

[Bilal9]

No one designs Bridges with pencil , ruler, and T squares anymore, everyone uses modeling software.

The CAD expertise locally is very, very good.

In fact there is a lot of VFX and CAD work being done by freelancers locally.

Local real estate and shipbuilding companies have active CAD depts.

I personally know people who do advertising CGI as well as do Finite Element Analysis (modeling twisting/bending forces etc. on a CAD model).

 

[bluesky]

No one designs Bridges with pencil , ruler, and T squares anymore, everyone uses modeling software.

A bridge is designed neither by pencil nor just by modeling. All other structures are same. They are not just rendering.

 

[bluesky]

The CAD expertise locally is very, very good.

In fact there is a lot of VFX and CAD work being done by freelancers locally.

Local real estate and shipbuilding companies have active CAD depts.

I personally know people who do advertising CGI as well as do Finite Element Analysis (modeling twisting/bending forces etc. on a CAD model).

A few years ago, there was a group called Draftsman. They (and also engineers) drafted drawings by pencil on a drawing board.

About 3 decades ago there appeared software called CAD meaning computer aided drafting. Now, it is a little improved tool known as AutoCAD.

But, Auto CAD is for drafting the drawings only. And the design itself is not just drafting. Designing involves many more things including site surveying, site selection, pier/ pillar location selection, soil investigation by SPT (Standard Penetration Tests), the decision of bearing capacity of the soil and the pile group, stress analysis of columns, girders, or truss members, abutments, etc.

All by mathematical calculations. Not by the rule of the thumbs.

Depending on the results of hundreds or thousands of pages of hand and computer calculations, designers express the results on the drawing sheets drawn nowadays with Auto CAD.

 

[Bengal71]

A few years ago, there was a group called Draftsman. They (and also engineers) drafted drawings by pencil.

About 3 decades ago there appeared a software called CAD meaning computer aided drafting. So, now it is a little improved tool known as AutoCAD.

But, Auto CAD is for drafting only. And design itself is not just drafting. Designing involves many more things including site surveying, site selection, pier/ pillar location selection, soil investigation, decision of bearing capacity of soil and pile design for the piers: stress analysis columns, girders or trusses, etc. All by mathematical calculations. Not by the rule of the Hasina thumbs.

Depending on the results of hundreds or thousands of pages hand and computer calculations, designers express the results on the drawings.

This is correct, I agree.

 

[bluesky]

This is correct, I agree.

Thanks. However, I have read some people think here wrongly that it is just a set of drawings that are needed for the implementation of a project like a bridge, and that AutoCAD is the only tool needed.

To them, AutoCAD is good enough to do the design without really knowing what is called design. Drawings are drafted by AutoCAD and designs are done by hundreds of pages of mathematical calculations and many others.

And these calculations are done with the help of quite a number of set rules, and formulas written in internationally recognized standards like ACI, AASHTO, BS, NF, or DIN. There are thousands of pages in each standard that a design engineer learns step by step taking many years.