Agents want end to priority for Colombo-bound ships

The shipping agents have demanded cancellation of the priority berthing of the Colombo-bound vessels at the Chattogram port which is experiencing a huge export backlog at private depots.

The Chattogram Port Authority in a hurriedly called meeting on July 13 made some decisions, including prioritising berthing for Colombo-bound feeder vessels, aiming at clearing out exports piling up at private inland container depots.

Denouncing such decisions, shipping agents claim that only the “first-come-first-serve” formula will help reduce congestion on imported container ships. In order to formally place its demand, Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association on Saturday wrote a letter to CPA with a call to cancel the existing priority berthing facilities for the Colombo-bound ships.

But the port authorities said the decision was made in a bid to ease a huge export backlog at private depots that worsened further in recent times.

Export-oriented containers were jammed at the port as shipment of these export containers are getting delayed due to a global shortage of empty containers and space shortages in mother vessels from transshipment ports.

In order to overcome such a nagging situation, the port authorities also approved six more ships on the Chattogram-Colombo route with ensuring priority berthing of the ships plying on the Colombo route as a good number of these export containers are designated to be transported through Colombo.

Immediately after the decision on July 13, berthing priority was given to the Colombo-bound vessels, which has eventually caused delays in getting the berthing facilities for other ships on different routes especially Chattogram–Singapore and Chattogram-Malaysia routes.

It is noted that the Chattogram-Singapore route and the Chattogram-Malaysia route account for 75 per cent of the country’s shipment while the Chattogram-Colombo route carries 25 percent of the shipments, mainly export-oriented ready-made garments.

Shipping agents explained most of the ships on other routes have to spend five or six days extra just because of the priority berthing for Colombo-bound ships.

BSAA in its letter said, “Giving priority only on Colombo bound vessels has brought severe adverse effect in berthing schedules for other ships connecting with Singapore and Malaysia transshipment points through which Bangladesh receives about 70-75 percent of its total container import while sending about 60 percent of the laden exports.”

At present, waiting time for Singapore and Malaysia bound vessels have reached five days on average and it will certainly create a major bottleneck at that transshipment point for the import to Bangladesh stretching backward linkage, import Raw materials for export will suffer delay with subsequent failure to export on time.

“Against such a backdrop, we request the authorities concern to cease priority berthing facilities for Colombo bound vessels in order to clear the backlog by establishing ‘first come first serve’ Policy for all container vessels calling for Chittagong Port,’’ said BSAA in its letter.

Meanwhile, about 25 container ships were waiting to be unloaded at Chittagong port on Sunday, of which 11 were at berthing at the jetty. Moreover, there are 9600 TEUs waiting for export oriented containers, which was 15,000 TEUs just two weeks ago.

While talking to The Business Post, Rear Admiral Mohammad Shahjahan, chairman of CPA, said, “The Colombo-bound ship was given priority berthing with the consent of all.”

He, however, said, “Port authorities will review its decision at its next meeting, considering the overall situation in the port.”