Huge imported cars creating problems at Ctg Port yards
Monday, 15 December 2008
Jasim Uddin Haroon
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Sunday said a large number of imported re-conditioned cars in the port yards were creating obstructions on the movement of other cargoes.
As of Sunday afternoon, a total of 5128 reconditioned cars remained uncleared at the port against its capacity of around 2600 cars.
Port officials hinted that over 1500 more cars might arrive within this month.
Ahsanul Kabir, director (traffic), told the FE that it is now storing the cars to open spaces in the North Container Terminal, a newly built terminal designated only for full container load (FCL) cargoes.
"We are really in trouble as the port is now flooded with re-conditioned cars, however we are keeping it in different vacant spaces as the designated yards are already occupied" said Mr Kabir.
Importers, on the other hand, said the flow of cars is as usual but poor delivery due to the long vacation is the main reason behind such stock pile of cars.
"Our import volume is as usual, long vacation in the government offices due to the Eid-Ul-Azha is the main cause for such car congestion at the port," Hamid Sharif, general secretary of BARVIDA told the FE.
Port officials and shipping sources said that one ro-ro car carrier discharged 1762 cars while NYK, another carrier, released 7500 cars over the past few days.
Rabi Shankar, a senior official at the NYK, told the FE that at least two more car carriers will arrive this month with imported cars.
"We requested our office in Japan to send cars through small carriers as the port has been facing space crisis to park the cars," Mr Rabi added.
Mr Rabi said the number of cars being imported is rising because of the relaxation in import rules.
However, CPA is not, for the time being, mulling to increase penal rents as it is already realising two times higher penal rents from the consignees.
The CPA slapped the higher rents in September to encourage early delivery from the port yards.
"We are not thinking to the slap fresh penal rents as we are already realising higher storage charges by two times from car importers," said Motaher Hossain, a deputy traffic manger and in-charge-of car yards.
Currently, an imported car has to pay penal rent at Tk 98 for a tonne after free four days, Tk 246 from the fifteenth day and onwards and Tk 394 from the 22nd day and onwards.
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Sunday said a large number of imported re-conditioned cars in the port yards were creating obstructions on the movement of other cargoes.
As of Sunday afternoon, a total of 5128 reconditioned cars remained uncleared at the port against its capacity of around 2600 cars.
Port officials hinted that over 1500 more cars might arrive within this month.
Ahsanul Kabir, director (traffic), told the FE that it is now storing the cars to open spaces in the North Container Terminal, a newly built terminal designated only for full container load (FCL) cargoes.
"We are really in trouble as the port is now flooded with re-conditioned cars, however we are keeping it in different vacant spaces as the designated yards are already occupied" said Mr Kabir.
Importers, on the other hand, said the flow of cars is as usual but poor delivery due to the long vacation is the main reason behind such stock pile of cars.
"Our import volume is as usual, long vacation in the government offices due to the Eid-Ul-Azha is the main cause for such car congestion at the port," Hamid Sharif, general secretary of BARVIDA told the FE.
Port officials and shipping sources said that one ro-ro car carrier discharged 1762 cars while NYK, another carrier, released 7500 cars over the past few days.
Rabi Shankar, a senior official at the NYK, told the FE that at least two more car carriers will arrive this month with imported cars.
"We requested our office in Japan to send cars through small carriers as the port has been facing space crisis to park the cars," Mr Rabi added.
Mr Rabi said the number of cars being imported is rising because of the relaxation in import rules.
However, CPA is not, for the time being, mulling to increase penal rents as it is already realising two times higher penal rents from the consignees.
The CPA slapped the higher rents in September to encourage early delivery from the port yards.
"We are not thinking to the slap fresh penal rents as we are already realising higher storage charges by two times from car importers," said Motaher Hossain, a deputy traffic manger and in-charge-of car yards.
Currently, an imported car has to pay penal rent at Tk 98 for a tonne after free four days, Tk 246 from the fifteenth day and onwards and Tk 394 from the 22nd day and onwards.