Port officials said when built annual container handling capacity will rise to 3.0 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) and bulk cargo handling will rise to 100 million tons.
CPA will fund 30 percent of the construction cost for the deep seaport while the rest will be collected from government and local and international financiers, ministry officials said.
"The first phase of the deep seaport when completed by 2016 will have two harbours of nine 300-metre (long) jetties along with required infrastructure and back-up facilities," said Eddy Declercq, a senior official PCI.
The second phase, expected to be completed by 2035, would see two more harbours with the same specifications. The deep-sea port would have six harbours when the third phase would be completed by 2055, the PCI expert said.
The study proposed a 40 km railway tracks and roads to connect the deep seaport with Chittagong and Cox's Bazar resort town.