Foreign freighters fret as new rules favour BSC vessels

A row surfaces over the share of shipping-business cake as foreign freighters fret themselves about new rules that favour Bangladesh's state-run vessels in port berthing, sources say.
The Bangladesh Flag Vessel (protection of interests) rules are being framed with a provision of mandatory priority berthing for Bangladesh-registered vessels -- as port channels sometimes get jammed with ships.
Now at the final stage of making, the draft rules say the ports will give priority berthing to Bangladesh-registered vessels. "This is important as vessels face troubles in berthing, especially in Chittagong port."
The Ministry of Shipping (MoS) last week organised a stakeholder meeting to give final stitches to the rules. Shipping Secretary Md Mostafa Kamal presided over the zoom meeting. Shipping stakeholders, including local and foreign shipping lines' representatives, attended the consultation session.
Many a stakeholder, however, gnawed at the provision of giving business to Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) when the foreign bidders and local bidders had offered the lowest quotations for carrying government-funded cargoes.
In case of government-funded transportation of goods, the BSC will get this priority despite the fact that the lowest quotations were made by foreign or local bidders to have their share of the shipping-business cake.
The proposed rules read: BSC will carry the government-funded goods as the lowest quotations have been given by the foreign bidders or local bidders other than the BSC.
They say in such cases of apportionment of the trade offers, the foreign bidders will show interest.
"If BSC does not show interest in carrying the goods, then it will be given to the local and any Bangladesh-registered vessel. And if they do not show interest, it will be given to the foreign bidders," it is stated in the law of the trade.
However, more meetings may be organised to resolve the issues. Usually, ministry approval is the final seal on the rules.
The flag vessels act was passed in 2019, and many users urged the authorities to amend it.
Bangladesh has now around 50 bulk carriers registered with the country. There are some container vessels owned by BSC and HRC registered in the country too.

jasimharoon@yahoo.com