Port operations fall after CPA's take-over
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Jasim Uddin Haroon
The performance of the country's premier port has been deteriorating fast since the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) took the cargo handling operation under its own management last week.
Shipping circles said that vessels' turnaround time at the port increased by at least one day leading to huge financial losses both for shippers and consignees over the past week.
Three large feeder vessels -- Carla Rickmar, OEL Blessings and Sinar Suvang -- have failed to sail out on schedule following the poor performance. The vessels, however, left the port on Monday instead of Sunday.
The CPA earlier suspended the activities of operators at 12 berths and started cargo handling under its own management from May 11.
The CPA move came after a group of aggrieved co-berth operators secured a High Court order on April 29 to stop the activities of the operators and the notice was served to the CPA last week.
Currently, port workers are involved in handling equipment and other related jobs done by the men of berth operators.
Captain Md Rafiqul Islam, country director of Singapore-based PIL, a feeder operator, said his vessel -- Kota Rahmat -- arrived the port May 15 and was scheduled to leave May 17 saying: "My vessel is yet to sail out the port as the port's work has slowed down over the past one week."
Mr Rafique said this delay will lead to huge losses.
In the meantime, leaders of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA) expressed its grave concern to the CPA Sunday.
"We're really worried over the fast deterioration of the port activities," Ahsanul Hoque Chowdhry, chairman of the BSAA told the FE.
He hinted that the feeder operators might impose surcharge if the current situation prevails.
However, port officials said that the CPA would continue operation until the appointments of new berth operators through competitive biddings.
The port handles more than 90 per cent of the country's around $37 billion external trade.
It handled 1,161,469 containers in 2009 against 1,069,999 containers in the previous year.
The performance of the country's premier port has been deteriorating fast since the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) took the cargo handling operation under its own management last week.
Shipping circles said that vessels' turnaround time at the port increased by at least one day leading to huge financial losses both for shippers and consignees over the past week.
Three large feeder vessels -- Carla Rickmar, OEL Blessings and Sinar Suvang -- have failed to sail out on schedule following the poor performance. The vessels, however, left the port on Monday instead of Sunday.
The CPA earlier suspended the activities of operators at 12 berths and started cargo handling under its own management from May 11.
The CPA move came after a group of aggrieved co-berth operators secured a High Court order on April 29 to stop the activities of the operators and the notice was served to the CPA last week.
Currently, port workers are involved in handling equipment and other related jobs done by the men of berth operators.
Captain Md Rafiqul Islam, country director of Singapore-based PIL, a feeder operator, said his vessel -- Kota Rahmat -- arrived the port May 15 and was scheduled to leave May 17 saying: "My vessel is yet to sail out the port as the port's work has slowed down over the past one week."
Mr Rafique said this delay will lead to huge losses.
In the meantime, leaders of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA) expressed its grave concern to the CPA Sunday.
"We're really worried over the fast deterioration of the port activities," Ahsanul Hoque Chowdhry, chairman of the BSAA told the FE.
He hinted that the feeder operators might impose surcharge if the current situation prevails.
However, port officials said that the CPA would continue operation until the appointments of new berth operators through competitive biddings.
The port handles more than 90 per cent of the country's around $37 billion external trade.
It handled 1,161,469 containers in 2009 against 1,069,999 containers in the previous year.