PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Chattogram
Pilot
updated Dec 2013- Chittagong Pilot Boarding Ground Pilot boards22°12.2′N 091°46.5′E
Pilotage is compulsory for merchant vessels but is only available during daylight hours. Vessel should call on VHF Ch 16 and report ETA when 12nm from the port.
The entrance to the river is constantly changing and no vessel should attempt to enter without a pilot. Pilot boards approximately 2nm SW of the Outer Bar Buoy.
In moderate to heavy weather, a lee must be made for the pilot boat. The vessel receiving a pilot is required to wait at the pilot ground near the entrance, underway and taking consideration of the effect of tide and other conditions to facilitate boarding of the pilot in good time. Vessel should be able to take advantage of the tide for entering and berthing etc.
The distance from the pilot ground to the main jetties is approximately 11nm. Inward vessels must be present at the pilot station at least 3 hours before HW to enter on a particular day, subject to the availability of berth. The vessels movements generally commence about 4-5 hours before HW.
During the spring tide/freshets or foul weather, vessels under 7kts will not normally be handled and such vessels will be classed grade 2 for operational purposes. Agents should consult with the harbour master well in advance.
Masters are advised to manoeuvre with great care while embarking and disembarking pilots.
Vessels due for entering in the next 24 hours must anchor in anchorage 'B' and keep RT watch at least 3 hours before the pilot boarding time and also display their signal letters.
Incoming vessels normally enter with the flood tide. The normal manoeuvre is to snub with the starboard anchor and proceed to berth/mooring after heaving up and finally go alongside using the port anchor.
Pilot boards in position 22°11.9'N 091°46.9'E.
Vessels can be piloted up and down the river between the outer anchorage and the jetties at Chittagong during HW periods, between sunrise and sunset.
Key data
updated Mar 2023Size limits
LOA 199.99m, beam 36m, draught 10.5m, 66,262DWT.
Water density
1000-1005.
Load line zone
Bay of Bengal Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Dec 1 to Apr 30, Summer May 1 to Nov 30.
Tides
Salinity at Sadarghat varies from 0.1gms/1,000cc at LW to 0.2gms/1,000cc at HW during monsoons and from 2.5gms/1,000cc at LW to 16.5gms/1,000cc at HW during dry season.
Salinity at Patenga varies from 0.15gms/1,000cc at LW to 3.3gms/1,000cc at HW during monsoon and from 10gms/cc at LW to 27gms/1,000cc at HW during dry season.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) | — | 188 m | 3 |
| Patenga Container Terminal | 10.50 m | 200 m | 1 |
| Karnaphuli Fertilizer Terminal | — | 190 m | 2 |
| Meghna Terminal | 9.15 m | 189 m | 1 |
| MJL Terminal | 9.15 m | 189 m | 1 |
| Padma Oil Terminal | 9.15 m | 189 m | 1 |
| Grain Silo Terminal | 9.10 m | 190 m | 2 |
| New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) | 9.10 m | 187 m | 5 |
| TSP Fertilizer Terminal | 9.10 m | 183 m | 1 |
| CUFL Terminal | — | 190 m | 2 |
| Cement Factory Terminal | — | 186 m | 1 |
| Chittagong Dry Dock (CDDL) | — | 190 m | 1 |
| Diamond Cement Terminal | — | 56 m | 2 |
| General Cargo Terminal | — | 190 m | 12 |
| S Alam Refined Sugar Terminal | — | 62 m | 1 |
All 20 terminals
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Refinery Terminal | — | 185 m | 1 |
| Jamuna Oil Terminal | — | 183 m | 1 |
| Super Petrochemical Terminal | — | 66 m | 1 |
| United Tank Terminal (UTTL) | — | 183 m | 1 |
| VOTT Oil Refinery terminal | — | 189 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Feb 2023Approach
Karnaphuli River is entered between a training wall retaining a sand and mud flat, which extends 0.5nm SW from "Patenga Point" (22°13.5'N 091°48.2'E) and a stone apron extending Juldia training wall SW, which retains mud flats on the SE side of the entrance.
Outer Bar lies at the seaward end of the training walls. The channel over Outer Bar is marked by lightbuoys the positions of which are frequently altered and by leading light beacons standing 0.35nm NE of Patenga Point.
The channel in the river is marked by lightbuoys on the E and W side for approx 5nm within the entrance passing over the three bars.
Safe Draught: The depth of water at the Outer, Inner and Gupta Bars is maintained at 5.6m LW throughout the year. The bars are situated at 0.5nm, 1nm and 4.75nm from the entrance. In order to calculate the max draught for entering or sailing the depth of 5.6m is added to the height of tide for day light tides.
Port limits
Seaward Limit: with Patentga Beacon as centre, an arc seaward with radius 5.5nm to where it crosses the coastline at positions: 22°18.7'N 091°46.5'E in the N and 22°08.2'N 091°50.0'E in the S, the area enclosed within the arc forms the seaward limits of the port of Chattogram.
Upper Limits: Upper limits of the river water are formed by two straight lines. One drawn across the Karnafuli River in the N by joining the two pillars located at: 22°24.5'N 091°53.3'E and 22°24.9'N 091°54.2'E. The other by joining the two pillars located at: 22°25.1'N 091°53.3'E and 22°25.1'N 091°53.2'E.
These limits include so much of the area and of Karnafuli River and Halda River and the area that lie within 137m of high water mark at ordinary spring tide and docks, wharves, quays, stages, jetties, piers, warehouses, sheds, railway lines and yards within the limit of the bounded area and such other area outside it as included in Schedule 3 of the Chattogram Port Act.
Traffic schemes and VTS
The port has AIS surveillance system.
Anchorages
Anchorage "A": Formed by extending 2 lines up to port limit, one having bearing 337.45° and the other 310.3° from the point having position 22°12.3'N 091°47.0'E.
Anchorage "B": Formed in between 4th and 5th line having bearing 234° extended up to port limit from the previous point.
Anchorage "C": Between 4th and 5th line having bearing 234° and 157° respectively, extended up to port limit from a point of 22°12.0'N 091°47.2'E.
The area between 3rd and 4th lines is prohibited anchorage.
"A" Anchorage is for vessels over 9.2m draught (freshwater draught limited of between 11.0m and 11.5m).
"B" Anchorage is for vessels entering the port within 24 hours (freshwater draught limitation 10.0m).
"C" Anchorage is for vessels lightering and other vessels not scheduled to enter the port within 24 hours (freshwater draught limitation of between 8.5mm and 9.0m).
Vessels can anchor temporarily in certain reaches of the river whilst bound up or down. However, it should be noted, there is only swinging room at or near HW and with assistance from the engines. Vessels cannot remain at anchor at LW. The bed of the river is soft mud and harmless in case of grounding.
Quarantine anchorage: Vessels carrying plaque or other infectious diseases must anchor off Coombs Pillar, 0.8nm N of Juldia flagstaff.
The port has recommended anchorage grounds:
Note: Masters are advised not to anchor southward off Patenga Lighthouse, bearing 055° and to observe Admiralty Notices describing prohibited anchorage and proposed anchorages. On arrival at the outer anchorage, vessels should proceed to marked anchorage clear of the prohibited anchorage and contact the signal station Port Radio Control on VHF Ch 12, to indicate the time and anchorage position. The signal station keeps constant watch and records the arrivals and departures of vessels and transmits and receives advance information of urgent nature. Masters are advised, in their own interests, to maintain a security watch on the focsle and the poop while the vessel is at the Outer Anchorage.
Kitubdia Anchorage: Permissible draught 15.0m to 16.0m.
Restrictions
Night navigation: Both inward and outward, possible for vessels up to LOA 153m with their bridge aft and up to LOA 165m with their bridge amidships.
Tugs
A fleet of tugs up to a maximum 3,200bhp is available.
Mooring
As Karnaphuli is a tidal river, it is essential for a vessel entering the port to have 6 ropes aft for mooring purposes.
Arrival: Vessels are allocated berths on a first come first served basis. Vessels exceeding quota need to wait at the anchorage. In order to facilitate fixed berthing and sailing time of vessels, a berthing window system has been introduced. Tentative berthing schedule is made in advance on the basis of application from container feeder operators. Vessels anchoring on arrival are to advise anchor position to Port Control on VHF Ch 12.
Charts and publications
BA 90, 102, 1016. Admiralty Pilot NP21, NP286(4).
Reporting before arrival
updated May 2014Communications
Note: The port authority has introduced measures to protect vessels in the port from acts of piracy or armed robbery. Vessels are advised to report any attack immediately to the Port Radio Control on VHF Ch 12.
Inspections
Port State Control here: Indian Ocean MOU.
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Department of Shipping.
Position: Director General.
Address: 141-143, Motijheel C/A (8th Floor), Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
Tel: +880 2 955 5128.
Fax: +880 2 716 8363.
Mob: +880 173 110137.
Email: [email protected]
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Port services
updated Nov 2018Repairs
A number of private repair yards are available. Repairs undertaken at the moorings may be permitted for dry cargo vessels for a limited period. There is a small marine salvage unit and diving services operated by the port authority.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available at all Port Authority jetties. Also barges available to supply vessels at other berths and at the outer anchorage.
Bunkers: Supplied to the vessels at the oil moorings.
Stores: Fresh provisions are available.
Medical
Chittagong Port Authority Hospital will treat crew members, arranged through local agent. Halishahar General Hospital, 4.6km.
Transport
Nearest airport: Shah Amanat International Airport located at Chittagong, 13.3km.
Nearest railway: Chittagong.
Working hours
Day Shift 0730-1200hrs, 1330-1700hrs. Fridays 0700-1200hrs and 1400-1700hrs. Night shift 2000-2359hrs and 0001-0400hrs.
Stevedore working hours: Each berth has a stevedore operator appointed by the port authority.
Three shifts: 0800-1600hrs, 1600-2359hrs, 2359-0800hrs.
About Chattogram
updated Sep 2026Where it is
The port is situated on the right bank of Karnaphuli River, approx 9nm upriver from the Bay of Bengal.
The port
Chattogram (formerly Chittagong) is the premier port of Bangladesh. It is surrounded by India in the N and W. Imports include Food grain, Cement clinker, Sugar, Salt, Fertilizer, General cargo, Iron Materials, Chemicals, Coal and Edible oil etc. Exports include ready Made Garments, Knitwear, Fertilizer, Jute and Jute Products, Hides and Skins, Tea, Naphtha, Molasses, Frozen foods etc.
Traffic
Approx 131,000,000t of cargo, 3,300,000TEU and 4,300 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Chattogram
Where does the pilot board at Chattogram?
The pilot boards at Chittagong Pilot Boarding Ground, 22°12.2′N 091°46.5′E.
What time zone is Chattogram in?
Local time at Chattogram is UTC+6. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Chattogram?
The deepest berth listed is at Patenga Container Terminal: 10.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Chattogram?
1000-1005.
Which load line zone is Chattogram in?
Bay of Bengal Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Dec 1 to Apr 30, Summer May 1 to Nov 30.
Who carries out Port State Control at Chattogram?
Port State Control at Chattogram: Indian Ocean MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Chattogram?
The UN/LOCODE of Chattogram is BDCGP.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Chattogram say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.