Ctg-Kolkata cargo service launched

CHITTAGONG, Mar 20: Direct transportation of containerised cargoes between Chittagong and Kolkata was launched on Friday.

The locally-made vessel MV Rodella left on the day for the Kolkata Port carrying 120 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers. It is expected to reach the destination today (Saturday).

With the launch of the direct service between the two ports Prantik Marine, a local ship-builder and operator, emerges as a new container feeder operator.

The Bangladesh flag vessel, registered in Chittagong, was commissioned in January last by the Desh Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. It is a general cargo ship having the capacity of carrying 128 TEUs of containers.

It is being operated by Fast Stream Logistics Ltd, a concern of the Prantik Group.

If the service proves viable, other local operators would also join in it, said Engineer Golam Sarwar, managing director of Prantik Group.

"Currently, a lion's share of the containerised cargoes is transported to Chittagong via Singapore, Colombo and Malaysian ports, which takes a long time and involves much higher costs. The direct container ship service will lessen both time and cost," he said.

According to shipping business insiders, a trip from Kolkata to Chittagong Port via Colombo takes at least 10 days while the fare stands at US$ 500. The direct transportation between Chittagong and Kolkata will take only two days and the expenditure will also come down drastically, he said.

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