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REPORT ON BERTHING FACILITIES FOR FRIGATE IN MONGLA AREA

INTRODUCTION

1. BN is blooming day by day with its ships, bases, equipments and men.
As the naval area is not growing with the same pace, it is required to
accommodate and facilitate all aspects within the limited resources. The
ships are also needed to distribute between Chittagong and Khulna naval
area for safe berthing. Thereby, as per directives of COMKHUL, the
undersigned has been nominated to study the berthing facilities for frigate
in Mongla area.

SCOPE

2. The scope of the report is to carryout a study on the preparedness of

the concerned base/organization in Mongla including jetty facilities for the
berthing of frigate.

PROCEEDINGS

3. The undersigned visited the jetty areas, various places of the base and
held discussions with the Commanding Officer and other concerned officers
for the study.

FINDINGS

4. The study is being preceded with the following heads.

a. Existing facilities for berthing.

b. Logistic facilities in Mongla base.
c. Navigational aspects/safety factors in the channel.

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Existing facilities for berthing

5. Length of the jetty. After visiting the jetty area it has been
observed that a frigate having length of 110m cannot be berthed along
single pontoon in NB1 and NB2, because its total length of a single pontoon
is 60m. Even after making fast to the jetty, some extended portion of the
foxl and Q/deck of the frigate may lay outside of the jetty. NB3 is fixed with
three separate pontoons making a total 160m length for berthing. NB3 can
be suitable for berthing considering the berthing of other smaller vessels.

6. Weight/tonnage/holding capacity of the pontoon. The holding

capacity of the pontoon is not know to the board; hereby it cannot be
determined whether it is safe to keep frigate in NB3.

7. Berthing for other ships. If a frigate fixed with a jetty, there will
be problem for smaller ships like LCTs, MFVs, survey ships, S/PORAN,
S/MAKDUM etc for berthing. Even 4 OPVs cannot be kept in one pontoon.

8. Electric supplies. Shore supply, water and fuel supply points are not
adequate when all ships are alongside. More supply points with good
facilities to be required before placing the frigate.

9. Lifting and crane facilities in the jetty. Frigates needs huge

replenishments during stay in terms of ration or machinery. Presently there
are no lifting or crane facilities in mongla. It is to ponder; crane or lifting
facilities cannot be built on pontoon, rather new concrete structures need to
be built to facilitate frigate with crane.

10. Tag facilities. Presently BNT SEBAK cannot do side tow for OPVs.
It will be difficult for tug also to move a frigate when require.

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Logistic facilities in Mongla base

11. Housing for officer’s family. Presently there are 14 Houses for
officers in Digraj where 8 are already occupied. There are 04 houses in
Mongla Anx where 1 is occupied and 3 are vacant. The number of officers
will be more then 30 including officers of Mongla area if the officer dose not
gets accommodation in Khulna area.

12. Housing for sailor’s family. There are no accommodations/house for

ships coy in Digraj. 52 houses are available in Mongla-Anx and 42 are
occupied presently. Number of families for ships coy will be more then 100 if
frigate and mine sweepers placed under Mongla area.

13. Accommodations for officers living in BOQ. Mongla BOQ has total
18 no of rooms including 2 VIP cabins. It will not be possible to place senior
officers/ other officers in BOQ if the number of officers increases. Aprrox
more 20 cabins will be required for the officers.

14. Accommodations for sailors living in barrack Mongla base can

accommodate approx 100 sailors in the barrack. The number will be more
then 250 after frigate and mine sweepers joins.

15. Playground, sports, swimming and entertaining facilities. Presently

Mongla has one tennis ground for officers, one basketball and one volleyball
ground for ships coy. Own cable TV network with 5 channels are available
now. It has been observed the Mongla needs its basic recreational and
entertainment facilities that include swimming pool, football ground, good
TV channels etc.

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Navigational aspects/safety factors in the channel

16. Depth of the channel all through from and to Mongla jetty and Bay-of-
Bengal is not even. There are many places in the channel, which requires
very precise navigation.

17. The channel is not well surveyed and it changes very frequently.

18. Shore becons/ marking/ buoys are not well marked and unlit.

19. It is to consider carefully that, the turning circles of the frigate in

comparison to the width and depth of the channel adjacent to the navy jetty
is safe for navigation.

RECOMMENDATION

20. The recommendations are appended below:

a. Jetty is to be surveyed properly and the weight holding capacity

is to be checked carefully before placing a frigate.

b. More berths are to be arranged as all the small ships cannot

berth alongside the frigate and all the OPVs also can not be
berthed in one pontoon.

c. Electric supply points to be increased with good security.

d. Tag is very important for ships movement, so an ocean tag is

required in Mongla area.

d. Housing/ accommodation facilities need to be increased before

placing the frigate and mine sweepers in Mongla area.

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e. Dredger will be required for channel clearance by the port

authority and the updated information must be supplied to the
ships by BN hydrographic center.

f. Shore becons/marking need to be fixed for safe navigations.

g. It is to consider carefully that, the turning circles of the frigate

in comparison to the width and depth of the channel adjacent to
the navy jetty is safe for navigation.

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