CHATTOGRAM, Aug 28: Release of goods and containers in Chattogram port, the prime seaport of the country, is taking a relatively longer time in the current month due to the ongoing flood situation in Chattogram, Feni and Cumilla districts.
Container congestion is increasing day by day in the seaport due to slow delivery of containers from the jetties.
Sources said there were 11 ships waiting at the outer anchorage of Chattogram port on Tuesday. Among them, the number of ships with cranes was three while ships without cranes were eight.
On August 25, the number of vessels waiting was 12 and on August 22 it was 16.
Besides, on August 27, the number of containers inside the port stood at 38, 997 TEUS, on August 26 it was 37,996 TEUS. This number last Friday was 36, 642 TEUS.
Sources said at present unloading of cargo from 16 container ships is going on in the jetties of the port. These ships have 3,674 TEUS import containers.
If these containers are unloaded at the port yard, the number of containers inside the port will exceed 41,000.
At the same time, the decrease in export containers will not affect the number much.
Sources said traffic came to a standstill on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway during the rain from August 16 to 26 last and flood in the adjoining districts.
As a result, number of containers in the port and the cargo ships waiting at the outer anchorage increased in the last days.
Following recession of the floodwater from the highway, traffic has started, but due to the bad condition of the road, vehicles particularly prime mover and lorries are moving at a very slow speed.
So, delivery of containers and goods remained very slow from Chattogram seaport till date.
Meanwhile, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has set up Inland Container Terminal at Pangaon for exports and imports as alternative to road and railways.
Secretary of CPA Mohammed Omar Faruk said, "Due to the ongoing flood situation, transport of import and export cargo containers on the Chattogram-Dhaka-Chattogram road and railway is being delayed and has almost stopped now. This is hampering import and export activities of the country. The Inland Container Terminal at Pangaon has been strategically prepared for users in order to bring the matter to the fore and facilitate import and export using the Chattogram-Dhaka-Chattogram waterway."
He further said, "Currently container capacity of Chattogram port is more than 53,500. And there are around 39,000 inside the port. That is, around 14,000 single container spaces are still vacant. However, our capacity for cranes and vehicles is not fully accommodated in container yards. Still, the space for 14,000 single containers is not less. Moreover, as the flood situation has improved, container deliveries to Dhaka have increased, albeit at a slower pace."
He said, "Importers and exporters can use Pangaon Inland Container Terminal for export and import through Chattogram sea port. Inland vessels of various shipping companies and all kinds of logistics facilities in Chattogram port are being prepared financially for this project. National Revenue Board is also ready to provide financial support. So, there is no problem to carry the containers through the waterway now."
"However, all importers and exporters including BGMEA, BKMEA are requested to take necessary measures to maintain import-export flow through Chattogram-Dhaka-Chattogram sea route using Pangaon Inland Container Terminal and Chattogram port. Chittagong Port Authority will provide additional cooperation. We have informed the importers and exporters to take containers to Dhaka by sea. As a result, it is expected that the situation will return to normal soon," he added.
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