Visit to Physical Model of Pussur Waterway Regulation Project for Mongla Port

Discussion

On August 3, 2024, Mr. Shaheen Rahman, Rear Admiral and Chairman of the Mongla Port Authority, Bangladesh, led a four-member delegation consisting of personnel from the Bangladeshi Ministry of Shipping and the Mongla Port Authority to visit and exchange ideas at the Dangtu Experiment Base for Water Engineering and Technology Development, NHRI. The delegation was accompanied by the head of the Bangladesh Office of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

The delegation inspected the physical model of the "Pussur Waterway Regulation Project for the Mongla Port" in Deep Water Channel Test Hall. They discussed the serious back-siltation problem encountered during the implementation of the second phase dredging project at the Mongla Port, as well as technical issues related to the simulation of mangrove ecosystem on both banks and the optimization of channel improvement plans in the physical model with NHRI researchers during their lab visit.

Following the inspection, a discussion was held between the delegation and the research project team, composed of experts from NHRI, CCECC and Changjiang Survey, Planning, Design, and Research Co., Ltd. (CISPDR). The discussion was chaired by Prof. CAO Minxiong, Deputy Director of NHRI River and Harbor Engineering Department. Prof. CAO warmly welcomed the delegation and reviewed the scientific and technological support provided by NHRI for river and coastal engineering projects in Bangladesh. Prof. SUN Feng, Deputy Director of NHRI International Cooperation Office, introduced to the delegation NHRI’s history, scientific talents, expertises, research platforms, and international cooperation projects. River and Harbor Engineering Department, representing the project team, reported the overall design layout and the results and progress of numerical models and physical models of the Pussur Channel Improvement Project as well as the next step plan.

Rear Admiral Shaheen Rahman expressed his high appreciation for the professional level and research capabilities of NHRI. He provided an overview of the current state and future planning for Bangladeshi water transport development, highlighting that the nation was currently developing its blue ocean economy. He emphasized the critical role of the Mongla Port in driving the economic development of the southern region of Bangladesh and informed that the Ministry of Shipping was accelerating the official approval process for the Pussur Channel Improvement Project. He hoped that water transport business in Bangladesh could be further advanced via the in-depth cooperation with NHRI. Additionally, he extended an invitation to relevant leaders and technical team of NHRI to visit Bangladesh for further exchange and collaboration.

Principals and technical experts from NHRI International Cooperation Office, River and Harbor Engineering Department, CCECC and CISPDR accompanied the visit and participated in the discussion.