Port of Payra

An Overview of Payra Sea Port

The Payra Sea Port, situated in Kalapara, Patuakhali, Bangladesh, is a pivotal maritime gateway established by an Act of Parliament in 2013 and officially inaugurated in August 2016. Located on the Ramnabad channel near the Bay of Bengal, this port is the country’s cornerstone of economic development.

To ensure the port’s success, the government has implemented a phased development plan:

Short-Term Plan: By 2018, the port was operational with a minimum 2.5 km terminal, handling essential port activities and discharging cargo from mother ships to the hinterlands through river routes.
Mid-Term Plan: By 2023, the port is expected to be fully functional with at least 10 km of container and bulk terminals and all necessary supplementary facilities.
Long-Term Plan: Future developments include establishing an Economic Zone, Airport, Port City, Dockyard, and Shipyard alongside eco-tourism and other relevant infrastructure.

Facilities at Payra Sea Port

Jetty Area Depth: The jetty area boasts a 12-25 meter water depth, accommodating deep draught and larger vessels.
Terminal Facilities: The port can develop up to 11 km of jetty/terminal facilities.
Channel Width: A 4 km wide channel ensures smooth navigation and berthing.
Hinterland Development: Ample space for developing modern seaport infrastructure.
Safety and Security: A planned Navy base and Coast Guard near the port area will provide necessary safety and security.
Disaster Protection: The port is well-protected from natural disasters.
Transshipment Hub: Strategically located for regional transshipment, with a constraint-free large channel for anchorage and loading/unloading on both sides for ships.
Competitive Costs: Lower landing, shipping, and river dues than Chittagong Port.
24-Hour Operation: The port operates round-the-clock, ensuring continuous services.
Vehicle Handling: Facilities for handling and parking motor vehicles.
Accommodating Large Vessels: Able to accommodate vessels with a 15-meter draft.
Container Handling Capacity: Capable of handling 75,000 containers annually, nearly five times the capacity of existing ports.

Navigational Information

Maximum Permissible Draught of Vessel: Ranges from 7.2 meters to 8 meters, depending on tidal height.
LOA (Length Overall): The maximum permissible LOA of a vessel is 200 meters.
Tidal Range: Tides are semi-diurnal with a prominent diurnal effect. The approximate tidal range is between 2.0 and 3.5 meters.
Pilotage: Pilotage is compulsory as per the PPA ordinance.
Radio Communication: The Port Radio Control Room monitors VHF Channels 24, 12, and 16 round the clock.
Night Navigation: The entire channel is demarcated by lights and buoys. Night navigation is unlimited when entering or leaving the harbor.
Anchorage: A vast anchorage is available at the Outer and Inner Anchorage of PPA.

Hydrographic Data

Bars and Depths: The port features an Outer Bar and an Inner Bar at the mouth of the Rabnabad Channel, with depths of 5.2 meters and 5.0 meters, respectively, from the Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT). The channel depth ranges from 11.0 to 25.0 meters, while the Kajal-Tetulia River route depth varies from 4.2 meters to 17.5 meters.

Current Velocity

Spring Tides (SW Monsoon): 2.5 to 3.5 Knots
Neap Tides (SW Monsoon): 1.5 to 2.5 Knots
Spring Tide (Winter Months): Up to 2 Knots
Neap Tide (Winter Months): Up to 1.5 Knots

Salinity

Rabnabad Channel: 1 to 0.2 gm/1000cc at low/high water during monsoons; 2.5 to 16.5 gm/1000cc during the dry season.
Kajal River: 0.15 to 3.3 gm/1000cc at low/high water during monsoons; 10 to 27 gm/1000cc during the dry season.
Channel Width: Navigational channel width varies, with no restriction from the fairway to the mouth of Rabnabad Channel, maintaining a minimum of 250 meters in the Kajal-Tetulia route.

Port of Payra, Near Bay of Bengal at Kalapara, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Additional Information

Wind and Weather

Monsoon seasons govern prevailing winds, which vary from south-southeast in April-September to north-northeast in November-January. Wind speeds over 20 Knots are common during cyclones, with recorded speeds of up to 180 Knots in severe cyclonic events.

Tidal Ranges

Rabnabad Channel: 0.8m to 3.5m above Indian Spring Low Water Level (ISLWL)
Amirganj (Meghna Juncture): 0.7m to 2.8m above ISLWL
Waves: Generally low, with maximum heights over 2m recorded occasionally. Wave periods range from 3-4 seconds for waves around 0.5m to 6 seconds for waves around 2m.
Freshets: Occur from May to October, caused by heavy rainfall leading to increased river flow.
Anchorage Maps: Inner Anchorage areas include Chalitabunia and Lalua.
Dredged Channel: This is an access channel within Rabnabad Channel maintained at a depth of 6.3 meters and marked by 14 pairs of navigational buoys.

Economic Impact

The Payra Sea Port is set to generate significant employment opportunities, boost exports and imports, and enhance the country’s cargo handling capacity. It will play a crucial role in creating the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor, fostering regional economic growth and collaboration.

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