Chittagong’s third attempt for berth operator

Chittagong Port Authority has invited quotations for the third time for appointment of berth operator for container and containerised cargo handling at the six general cargo berths, The Financial Express reported.

The CPA has issued the invitation for tender for container handling at jetty no 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 for three years, officials said.

The port authority has legal bindings for completion of the bidding process of container handling at the GCBs and award of the same to the selected private operators through open tendering method under PPA 2006 and PPR 2008 within 30 September 2010.

Saif PowerTec, a private operator is now handling containers and containerised cargo at the Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) and New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), two specialised terminals of the port.

Earlier in May and July last the CPA invited quotations from the private operators but could not appoint any due to legal complications when the High Court issued stay orders on the process of technical evaluation of the CPA in both the tenders upon writ petitions filed by aggrieved operators and stevedores.

In May last year, the port authority awarded the contract for handling bulk cargo at the six GCB berths through open tender but the bidding for container handling was challenged in the court as the CPA violated the bidding regulations of Chittagong port.

Since May 10, the CPA has been handling containers and containerised cargo at the general container berths with equipment hired from the private operators and off-docks.

In the face of court order the port authority tried to award the handling job to the former private berth operators selected by the caretaker government in 2007 as suggested by the shipping ministry and the parliamentary standing committee on shipping as an interim arrangement.

The award was finalised with the operators but the move was challenged by Cosmos Enterprise, the second lowest bidder in the second tender.

The dock workers of the port under the banner of a ruling Awami League workers' forum objected the move and warned of prolonged agitation and suspension of activities in the port.
(Source:www.cargonewsasia.com)