|
Vessel congestion inhibiting foreign trade in Ctg port
Jasim Uddin Haroon
10/13/2005
A huge congestion of container-carrying vessels in the country's main maritime seaport at Chittagong is
hampering foreign trade as well as causing losses to businesspeople.
Port officials said that they had denied entry to as many as three container vessels scheduled to berth at the
jetties Wednesday due to this congestion.
The container vessels are identified as Gota Ratna, Independent Spirit and Express Nuptse.
On the other hand, two other vessels carrying imported items - Mauritius Green and Coastal Express - could
not depart the port on the day on account of container gridlock and poor port operation.
Sources said that five more vessels at the outer anchorage were waiting to enter the jetties. These are:
Bhanga Bhiraj, Eastern Star, Ratu, Dawei and Phutan.
Port officials said that activities at the operational level had been somewhat reduced due to Ramadan,
resulting in slow loading and unloading, which, in turn, have triggered congestions at the port jetties. At
present, 16 vessels are stranded at different jetties.
Md. Ahsanul Kabir, Director of Traffic Department of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) said that the
process of installation of gantry cranes at two berths had reduced their vessels' handling capacity to a great
extent.
He also said that huge pressures of fertiliser-laden vessels, especially imported consignments in recent times
to meet the demand for Rabi harvesting season, also contributed to the congestions.
"Vessels loaded with 600,000 tonnes of fertiliser and installation process of gantry cranes have restricted
the berthing of at least 20 container vessels this month", he added.
However, he hinted that the port operation would be paced up and vessels congestion will be brought to a
minimum by November after the successful installation of four gantry cranes, which will handle at least 80
boxes per hour.
Another CPA official said that such congestion is certainly creating financial losses to the importers as the
vessels had to stay behind in the jetties for at least two additional days due to the maritime traffic chaos.
Besides, a three-day holiday on the occasion of Durga Puja and the weekend (Friday and Saturday) will also
create greater container congestion at the yards due to poor delivery, a port official said.
|