Congestion eased at port

Chittagong: Congestion of ships and containers eased at Chittagong Port in the past few days as its operational works including delivery of goods continued in full swing, port officials said.

The country’s premier seaport was plagued by severe congestion of ships and containers due to recent blockade programmes enforced by Awami League-led 14 party combine and the deadlock over gantry crane operation at its container terminal, port officials informed.

‘Now the situation improved with the easing of congestion. Delivery of containers from the port yards increased and the ships are not required to wait here for unusually long time,’ said the member (operation) of Chittagong Port Authority, Kamrul Hossain.

‘The consignees are taking delivery of the containers for a long route travel even at night,’ he added.

The harbour master of CPA, Jafor Ullah, said, ‘Now around 30 vessels were staying both at the jetties and outer anchorage while during blockade about 80 vessels waited in queue causing a severe congestion.’

‘The vessels calling here are getting quick entry and the turnaround period came down’ he added.

Port sources said that over 1,400 containers per day were delivered from port yards in the past couple of days as against around 1,000 containers per day during normal operation earlier.

The turnaround period on average came down to 8 days now from 12 to 14 days recorded two weeks ago, port sources added.