Ctg chamber decries hike in port charges
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
FE Report
The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in a letter to the chief Adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, Monday expressed its grave concern over the hike in the users' charges of port equipment and other related services at Chittagong port, said a press release.
The unilateral decision of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) in hiking the rates is likely to affect the image of the port because its services will be costlier for the users, Saifuzzaman Chowdury, president of the CCCI, said in the letter.
The CCCI president said the apparel sector will be adversely affected following fresh hike in port charges.
He sought chief adviser's intervention to ensure withdrawal of the gazette notification on increase of the charges.
"The CPA did not discuss the issue at all with the CCCI," Chowdhury added.
He called upon the chief adviser for his initiative to stop the process of raising or reducing the charges unilaterally by the CPA in future.
The CPA, which handles around 90 per cent of the country's external trade, will realise the revised rates soon after publication of a gazette notification.
According to the enhanced charges, the cost of using rail mounted quay gantry cranes will stand at US$ 15 for each 20-foot and $ 22.50 for 40-foot goods laden containers.
Charges for empty 20-foot and 40-foot containers will stand at $7.5 and $ 11.25 respectively.
Besides, tug-boat and water supply charges will also increase by around 50 per cent from the existing levels.
Tug charges for 200-1000 general registered tonnage (GRT) will be raised by 43 per cent. Currently, shipping agents are paying $ 110 for the same and it is going to be re-fixed at $ 158.
The tug-boat charge for the 1000-5000 GRT is also being raised by 43 per cent. The new charge will rise to $ 316 from $ 220.
Tug charges above 5000 GRT will be $ 632 from existing $440.
Charge for supplying water is also going to be increased. Water supply by pipes is going to be re-fixed at $ 1.5 per tonne and water supply by barge will be $ 6.40 each tonne from existing $ 3.40.
The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in a letter to the chief Adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, Monday expressed its grave concern over the hike in the users' charges of port equipment and other related services at Chittagong port, said a press release.
The unilateral decision of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) in hiking the rates is likely to affect the image of the port because its services will be costlier for the users, Saifuzzaman Chowdury, president of the CCCI, said in the letter.
The CCCI president said the apparel sector will be adversely affected following fresh hike in port charges.
He sought chief adviser's intervention to ensure withdrawal of the gazette notification on increase of the charges.
"The CPA did not discuss the issue at all with the CCCI," Chowdhury added.
He called upon the chief adviser for his initiative to stop the process of raising or reducing the charges unilaterally by the CPA in future.
The CPA, which handles around 90 per cent of the country's external trade, will realise the revised rates soon after publication of a gazette notification.
According to the enhanced charges, the cost of using rail mounted quay gantry cranes will stand at US$ 15 for each 20-foot and $ 22.50 for 40-foot goods laden containers.
Charges for empty 20-foot and 40-foot containers will stand at $7.5 and $ 11.25 respectively.
Besides, tug-boat and water supply charges will also increase by around 50 per cent from the existing levels.
Tug charges for 200-1000 general registered tonnage (GRT) will be raised by 43 per cent. Currently, shipping agents are paying $ 110 for the same and it is going to be re-fixed at $ 158.
The tug-boat charge for the 1000-5000 GRT is also being raised by 43 per cent. The new charge will rise to $ 316 from $ 220.
Tug charges above 5000 GRT will be $ 632 from existing $440.
Charge for supplying water is also going to be increased. Water supply by pipes is going to be re-fixed at $ 1.5 per tonne and water supply by barge will be $ 6.40 each tonne from existing $ 3.40.