CCH suspends advance port clearance
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
FE Report
The Chittagong Customs House (CCH) has suspended issuance of advance port clearance certificates to vessels that might cause overstay of ships at the port.
Shipping agents and feeder operators generally take prior port clearance certificate from the customs offices on Thursday in case their ships sail out on Friday and Saturday weekends.
Ahsanul Hoque Chowdhury, chairman of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA), told the FE that their companies would bear higher operating cost if the ships overstayed at the port.
One senior customs official told the FE over phone: "We've taken the step as the existing customs law does not allow issuance of advance port clearance certificates."
Mohammed Rafiqul Islam, country director of the PIL, a Singapore-based feeder operator, said this would also create delay in cargo movement as the vessels waiting at the outer anchorage will not be allowed to berth while there were ships at port jetties.
"Many countries including Singapore have the system of issuing advance port clearance to quicken sailing out of the ships," Mr Rafiq added.
The BSAA chairman however said: "If the order remains in effect, then we need a customs office that will provide services during the weekends."
Last week, the Chittagong Customs House stopped issuing port advance clearance certificates.
The Chittagong Customs House (CCH) has suspended issuance of advance port clearance certificates to vessels that might cause overstay of ships at the port.
Shipping agents and feeder operators generally take prior port clearance certificate from the customs offices on Thursday in case their ships sail out on Friday and Saturday weekends.
Ahsanul Hoque Chowdhury, chairman of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA), told the FE that their companies would bear higher operating cost if the ships overstayed at the port.
One senior customs official told the FE over phone: "We've taken the step as the existing customs law does not allow issuance of advance port clearance certificates."
Mohammed Rafiqul Islam, country director of the PIL, a Singapore-based feeder operator, said this would also create delay in cargo movement as the vessels waiting at the outer anchorage will not be allowed to berth while there were ships at port jetties.
"Many countries including Singapore have the system of issuing advance port clearance to quicken sailing out of the ships," Mr Rafiq added.
The BSAA chairman however said: "If the order remains in effect, then we need a customs office that will provide services during the weekends."
Last week, the Chittagong Customs House stopped issuing port advance clearance certificates.