Congestion returns at Chattogram port

Though the country’s premier sea port managed to get rid of years-long container and vessel congestion at the end of last year, following inclusion of a number of required equipment and some supervisory steps, such congestion has resurfaced at Chattogram port.

After enjoying a bit of comfort that lasted for five months, importers and exporters have started to face the problem again as container vessels have been experiencing a delay of five to nine days in receiving berthing permission, making them wait at sea and incur losses, according to representatives of shipping liners.

However, no one is to blame for this prevailing situation as it has been created due to the unavoidable non-operation at the port for total four days in two phases during cyclonic storm Fani last month and Eid-ul-Fitr this month.

Loading and unloading of goods at both the port jetties and its outer anchorage as well as delivery of goods were suspended for three days since May 2 morning as a cautionary step for Fani, said Khairul Alam Sujan, director of Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA).

The situation did not improve much in the month of Ramadan due to fewer working hours, Sujan said.

All sorts of activities at the port were suspended on Eid day (June 5). In addition, during the Eid vacation, containers continued to pile up at port yards as those could not be unloaded on time, which also caused vessel congestion at outer anchorage.

According to port officials, at least 11 container vessels were waiting to berth at jetties yesterday.

Analysing berthing schedules of last two weeks, it was found that vessels had to wait for at least five to nine days at the bay to berth at jetties, whereas it usually took one to two days during the last five months.

On June 2, container vessel Delaware Trader from Colombo arrived at the outer anchorage and could dock at NCT (New Mooring Container Terminal) jetty-3 on June 11.

At best, the port can dedicate 11 jetties out of 20 to accommodate container vessels, said its officials. The rest are used for bulk cargo carriers, they added.

Abdullah Jahir, general manager of vessel operating firm PIL (Bangladesh) Ltd, said at times authorities are allocating container vessels to jetties used for bulk carriers to reduce the pressure. In doing so, they need to be cautious about probable congestion of such carriers at outer anchorage, he added.

“This situation will not improve unless the number of jetties are increased,” he stressed.

Mohamamd Zakirul Islam, senior executive of M/S Karnaphuli Limited, a local shipping agent, feared that such congestion may prolong as three to four vessels are arriving daily at an average.

Operators of these vessels would have to bear maintenance cost including crew’s salary, fuel cost and other expenditures worth around US $5,000-10,000 for an additional day of waiting at the port, he added.

Enamul Karim, director (traffic) of Chattogram Port Authority, however, said the situation is not alarming yet.

“Delivery of containers has been going on in full swing since Monday and as a result, the number of containers at port yards has dropped significantly,” said the CPA director. “The situation will improve further in the coming days.”

He said it may take another week or two to reduce the number of vessels waiting at the bay. “We have also undertaken some projects to reduce the congestion.”