Chittagong Port Terminal Restrictions, GCB, CCT, NCT & PCT
Berth count, gantry crane capacity and draft limits across Chittagong's four container terminal areas.
Chittagong Port's container handling is now split across four terminal areas: the General Cargo Berths (GCB), the combined Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) / New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) connected by a short bridge, and the newer Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) near the Karnaphuli estuary. Each has its own equipment and draft limitations. Queue position, berth prospect, permissible draft (confirm with current CPA/pilot guidance for date and LOA), pilot boarding and cargo-working conditions can change with the latest CPA notice, tide, traffic, equipment, labour and receiver readiness.
Terminal Equipment Limits
| Equipment | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Gantry Cranes | 4 × 45 MT QGC, average productivity 15–20 moves/gantry/hour |
| Straddle Carriers | Max capacity 35 tons; RTGs (25 units, 40-ton capacity) |
| Reefer Plugs | 400 plugs available, extendable by a further 250 |
Berth-by-Berth Breakdown
| Terminal | Restrictions |
|---|---|
| GCB (General Cargo Berth) | 12 jetties total, 6 for container feeder vessels. No shore gantry cranes, loading/unloading uses ship's gear. Gearless container vessels not permitted. Max draft 8.55 m. |
| CCT (Chittagong Container Terminal) | 3 jetties total, 2 for container feeder vessels. 4 quay-mounted gantry cranes handle loading/unloading. Max draft 9.15 m. |
| NCT (New Mooring Container Terminal) | 5 jetties total, 4 berths for container feeder vessels. No shore gantry cranes, ship's gear only, gearless vessels not permitted. Max draft 9.15 m. |
| PCT (Patenga Container Terminal) | Operational since June 2024, run by Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) Bangladesh under a 22-year landlord-model concession. 3 jetties plus a dolphin jetty (~580–600 m total quay), can berth 3 vessels simultaneously. Max draft up to 10.5 m. Annual capacity targeted at 500,000–600,000 TEU once fully equipped with STS & RTG cranes. |
Why the Terminal Assignment Matters Before Arrival
GCB and NCT depend entirely on the vessel's own gear, since neither has shore gantry cranes, a gearless container vessel simply can't be worked there, regardless of how much cargo space is available. CCT and PCT both run shore-mounted gantries, which is the deciding factor for owners operating gearless tonnage on the Bangladesh trade. Terminal assignment isn't something an agent can negotiate after the vessel arrives; it has to be confirmed against the vessel's gear configuration and draft before the port call is planned, not after.
Planning a Container Call at Chittagong?
Send vessel name and IMO number, LOA, beam, arrival draft, cargo and gear details, ETA and intended berth or anchorage. The duty desk will report the current queue, permissible movement window and any separate lighterage, terminal or survey requirement.