BSC in dire straits as 13 ships remain idle
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Chittagong Office
CHITTAGONG, Nov 11: Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) is now in dire straits, as 13 of its ships with a total capacity of around 1,50,000 tonnes are floating with empty holds.
Records of previous four years indicate that 70 per cent of the ships of the national flag carrier remained idle in Chittagong harbour and anchorage for 'repair' due to lack of proper supervision.
BSC sources said as many as five of its ships have been idle for months. This has caused a huge financial loss to the organisation, as an idle ship's daily fixed operating cost (FOC) is US $4,000.
Sources said most of the BSC ships are more than 25 years old, and a vested quarter inside the organisation is making money in the name of huge repair and maintenance of those vessels.
BSC's manpower, around 400 in the offices and more than 200 in the ships, is also four times higher compared to that of other shipping companies, sources said.
Presently global shipping lines are increasingly shifting to container carrying, and 40 foreign feeder ships are now in operation in Bangladesh. However, BSC has withdrawn four of its container ships - Banglar Robi, Banglar Urmi, Banglar Moni and Banglar Shikha - from its feeder service.
Sources also said BSC lacks commercial marketing, and prefers to give ships on charter, allegedly due to incapability of its management. Presently five of its ships are on charter. Employees are being salaried with the earnings of two ships - Banglar Jyoti and Banglar Sourav - chartered by Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).
CHITTAGONG, Nov 11: Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) is now in dire straits, as 13 of its ships with a total capacity of around 1,50,000 tonnes are floating with empty holds.
Records of previous four years indicate that 70 per cent of the ships of the national flag carrier remained idle in Chittagong harbour and anchorage for 'repair' due to lack of proper supervision.
BSC sources said as many as five of its ships have been idle for months. This has caused a huge financial loss to the organisation, as an idle ship's daily fixed operating cost (FOC) is US $4,000.
Sources said most of the BSC ships are more than 25 years old, and a vested quarter inside the organisation is making money in the name of huge repair and maintenance of those vessels.
BSC's manpower, around 400 in the offices and more than 200 in the ships, is also four times higher compared to that of other shipping companies, sources said.
Presently global shipping lines are increasingly shifting to container carrying, and 40 foreign feeder ships are now in operation in Bangladesh. However, BSC has withdrawn four of its container ships - Banglar Robi, Banglar Urmi, Banglar Moni and Banglar Shikha - from its feeder service.
Sources also said BSC lacks commercial marketing, and prefers to give ships on charter, allegedly due to incapability of its management. Presently five of its ships are on charter. Employees are being salaried with the earnings of two ships - Banglar Jyoti and Banglar Sourav - chartered by Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).