Port of Payra: Bangladesh's Third Sea Port

Payra Sea Port, situated in Kalapara, Patuakhali, 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, it stands as a cornerstone of the country's economic development strategy.

With a jetty area depth of 12–25 meters and capacity for vessels drawing up to 15 meters, Payra is designed to accommodate deep-draught, larger vessels than Bangladesh's existing ports.

Phased Development Plan

SHORT-TERM (BY 2018)

The port became operational with a minimum 2.5 km terminal, handling essential port activities and discharging cargo from mother ships to the hinterlands via river routes.

MID-TERM (BY 2023)

The port is expected to be fully functional with at least 10 km of container and bulk terminals, along with all necessary supplementary facilities.

Long-term plans go further still — establishing an Economic Zone, Airport, Port City, Dockyard, and Shipyard, alongside eco-tourism and other supporting infrastructure.

Facilities at Payra Sea Port

The jetty area boasts a 12–25 meter water depth, with up to 11 km of jetty/terminal facilities plannable and a 4 km wide channel for smooth navigation and berthing. The port offers ample hinterland space for modern seaport infrastructure, a planned Navy base and Coast Guard presence for safety and security, and strong protection from natural disasters.

As a strategically located transshipment hub, Payra offers a constraint-free large channel for anchorage and loading/unloading on both sides for ships, lower landing, shipping, and river dues than Chittagong Port, and round-the-clock operation. It's built to handle up to 75,000 containers annually — nearly five times the capacity of existing ports — along with dedicated facilities for handling and parking motor vehicles.

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

Navigational Information

The maximum permissible draught ranges from 7.2 to 8 meters, depending on tidal height, with a maximum permissible LOA of 200 meters. Tides are semi-diurnal with a prominent diurnal effect, ranging approximately 2.0 to 3.5 meters. Pilotage is compulsory under the PPA ordinance, and the Port Radio Control Room monitors VHF Channels 24, 12, and 16 round the clock. The entire channel is demarcated by lights and buoys, allowing unlimited night navigation when entering or leaving the harbor, with a vast anchorage available at the Outer and Inner Anchorage of PPA.

Hydrographic Data

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). Channel depth ranges from 11.0 to 25.0 meters, while the Kajal-Tetulia River route varies from 4.2 to 17.5 meters.

Current Velocity

SW MONSOON

Spring tides: 2.5–3.5 knots. Neap tides: 1.5–2.5 knots.

WINTER MONTHS

Spring tide: up to 2 knots. Neap tide: up to 1.5 knots.

Salinity

In the Rabnabad Channel, salinity ranges from 1 to 0.2 gm/1000cc at low/high water during monsoons, rising to 2.5–16.5 gm/1000cc in the dry season. In the Kajal River, it ranges from 0.15 to 3.3 gm/1000cc during monsoons and 10 to 27 gm/1000cc in the dry season. Channel width is unrestricted from the fairway to the mouth of the Rabnabad Channel, maintaining a minimum of 250 meters along the Kajal-Tetulia route.

Wind, Weather & Tidal Ranges

Monsoon seasons govern prevailing winds, shifting 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 run 0.8–3.5 meters above ISLWL in the Rabnabad Channel and 0.7–2.8 meters above ISLWL at the Amirganj (Meghna Juncture). Waves are generally low, occasionally exceeding 2 meters, with periods of 3–4 seconds for 0.5 m waves and up to 6 seconds for 2 m waves. Freshets occur from May to October due to heavy rainfall increasing river flow.

Inner Anchorage areas include Chalitabunia and Lalua. The dredged access channel within the Rabnabad Channel is maintained at a depth of 6.3 meters, marked by 14 pairs of navigational buoys.

Economic Impact

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