Trade suffers as Chtg Port reels under heavy congestion

Chittagong: The country's main seaport at Chittagong is still struggling to give space to a large number of containers at its different yards and failing to cope with tremendous pressures of feeder vessels.

These handicaps are hampering export-import trade and port efficiency, in spite of the fact that the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has undertaken a number of concrete steps for easing the same, sources said.

The concerned business people, especially the readymade garment (RMG) operators, are incurring huge financial losses and losing competitiveness due to the long queues of feeder vessels and grossly inadequate storage space for the containers.

In the meantime, CPA high-ups are taking their sweet time, capitalising on the huge rush of feeder vessels, by 'fixing' berthing priority in exchange of speed money.

Chittagong Port Thursday experienced the presence of 57 feeder vessels at the outer anchorage and different jetties including CPA, special and other jetties.

Of these, 35 vessels have remained stranded at the outer anchorage. Meanwhile, 22 vessels are waiting at different jetties, of which 14 have been berthed at the CPA jetties and the remaining eight, at other jetties.

Different jetties of the CPA have stored 15,700 Twenty Equivalent Units (TEUs) containers against its as usual capacity of 12,800 TEUs. CPA insiders said 2,000 TEUs more will be added by Thursday taking the capacity to 17,700 TEUs.

The CPA sources also said they had delivered around 1500 TEUs Thursday.

Official figures showed that the CPA had experienced 15,630 TEUs containers on Wednesday and delivered only 1,425 TEUs on the day.

Chittagong Port has been experiencing serious container and vessels congestions over the last four weeks. The CPA has waived penal charges imposed on overstaying of containers at the yards to ease the congestion. The waiving of penal charges will continue until June 25.

It is also allowing import-handling at two private depots -- Issac Brothers and 'X' and 'Y' sheds -- as part of its strategy for easing the congestion of containers and feeder vessels.

The main line operators (MLOs) early this month issued a one-month ultimatum until June 5 for imposing surcharges for inordinate delays by vessels at the port. The MLOs threatened to impose US$ 130 for each 20-feet container.

Sources at the shipping sector said they needed around 25 days against the previous 15 days for unloading cargoes at the yards.

Vice-President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Shahidul Islam said they are losing orders and heaving under financial losses due to the delays in the port.

'I have to ship by air, against the backdrop of the continuous congestions at the Chittagong port and $50,000 was spent for carrying 15 tonnes of RMG items to the USA,' he added.