Turnaround time of vessels reduced at port

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Jasim Uddin Haroon
The turnaround time of vessels at the country's premier Chittagong port has considerably been reduced in October as a result of speedy handling of export-import cargo.
The turnaround time or stay-time of vessels, which begins from the arrival of vessels at the outer anchorage and ends at their sail-out, averaged 3.41 days in October while it was 3.48 days in September.
The ships' stay-time also declined sharply in October this year over the corresponding period of 2006. It was 10.39 days in October in 2006.
The handling of containers at the port also rose considerably in October compared to that of September this year.
The Chittagong port handled 82154 twenty-foot equivalent containers in October against 82000 in September this year. It handled 65885 containers in October in 2006.
The number of feeder vessels calling at the premier port also rose in October.
A total of 82 feeder vessels called at the port in October compared with 74 in September this year.
Only 62 feeder vessels called at the port in October in 2006.
Port officials said that regular monitoring of container movement by the port users and port officials contributed to the improvement of the port operation.
Besides, introduction of penal charges for overstay of containers at the port yards also contributed to the improvement.
Furthermore, creation of adequate space at the port yards following utilisation of New Mooring container terminal's yards and inauguration of new yards at the port areas also helped reduce the ships turnaround time, port officials claimed.
However, the vessels' stay time in August averaged 3.10 days against 3.26 days in July this year, said Chittagong port Authority Terminal Manager Zahid Hossain.
The ships stay-time has been falling since the proclamation of state of emergency in January 11 this year.
The vessels stay-time at the port was 3.60 days in June, 3.48 days in May, 4.84 days in April, 8.74 days in March, 8.69 days in February and 11.65 days in January this year.
The turnaround time of container vessels was over 13 days in December last year and more than 22 days during October-November in 2006 when the political chaos disrupted communications and other activities at the port.