Launch of coastal shipping in focus

Introduction of coastal shipping, renewal of inland water transit and trade protocol, hike of customs fees, imposition of service charges and new ports of call will dominate the shipping secretary level meeting between India and Bangladesh in New Delhi today.
Shipping Secretary Syed Monjurul Islam, leader of the 11-member Bangladesh delegation, left the country for the Indian capital to attend the two-day meeting with his Indian counterpart Pradeep Kumar Sinha.
This will be the second shipping secretary level meeting since the first meeting was held in Dhaka on July 2-3, 2012 when Bangladesh proposed providing transhipment facilities to India through the Chittagong and Mongla seaports by floating a new idea called coastal shipping.
India has instantly welcomed the offer and both countries agreed to explore the new idea for mutual benefit.
As per the proposal, Bangladeshi coastal vessels may be used commercially for transporting cargoes to and from India through Chittagong and Mongla ports.
Through implementing the plan, the rest of India will be connected with its east and south-east areas such as Visakhapatnam, Paradip of Orissa and Haldia of West Bengal.
To this effect, Bangladesh has suggested signing an agreement or protocol for transhipment of Indian cargo by using conventional coastal vessels under the existing protocol on inland water transit and trade which was first signed in 1972.
According to the officials, the secretaries at today's meeting will discuss the reports prepared by a joint committee regarding feasibility of the introduction of coastal shipping service between the two countries, draft agreement and standard operating procedure.
They said Bangladesh will raise the issue of increasing customs fees and imposition of service charges and bank guarantees on Indian vessels. Dhaka will also raise the issue of non-implementation of enhanced charge for maintaining navigation for inland water routes.