The Payra Sea Port in southern Bangladesh is set to begin limited transshipment operations by July 2026 as part of its long-term development under a detailed master plan, officials said Saturday.

Speaking at a seminar in Kuakata, Payra Port Authority (PPA) Member Commodore Mohammad Abdul Kader said the port will be able to handle up to 15 commercial vessels simultaneously once the new features become operational.

The development includes a 650-metre jetty for berthing container vessels with a capacity of 3,000 to 3,500 TEUs, navigational channels for Panamax-class ships, a 3.25 lakh square metre backup yard, and a 10,000 square metre container freight station.

Additional benefits will include uninterrupted river connectivity with Dhaka and other key regions, cost-effective anchorage, and parking facilities. Kader said tariff rates would be 20–30% lower than those at other national ports.

The event was organised by a joint team from Dutch consultancy Royal Haskoning DHV and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), who have led the development of the port’s master plan. The work commenced under a 2019 agreement between the PPA and the Ministry of Shipping, although the pandemic and political uncertainty delayed progress.

Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said the government aims to develop Payra as an environmentally friendly and internationally connected port. “It will rely on renewable energy rather than coal,” he said, urging investment in small industries around the port to maximise its future potential.