BANGLADESH's Chattogram Port Authority
(CPA) is writing directly to importers asking them to take delivery of
their imported cargoes to ease congestion at the port.
Some 44,000 TEU of fully loaded
containers are lying at the port yards, well past the maximum capacity
of 34,868 TEU, the CPA said in a letter.
"As the delivery of the containers has been very slow for the last one
month, the port has been facing operational disruption," the letter
added.
Importers earlier blamed limited services provided by various government
and other offices involved in releasing goods for the slow delivery
from the port.
The CPA sent letters to 13 importing firms that brought in 2,800 tonnes
of garlic, ginger and onion for Ramadan, asking them to collect these
goods that have been stranded at the port for the last few weeks, The
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh reported.
"We did this to reduce the congestion and accelerate the supply of commodities in the market," said CPA member Md Zafar Alam.
According to port authorities, 208 TEU containers loaded with 850 tonnes
garlic, 475 tonnes ginger and 1,473 tonnes onion are lying in its
yards. More containers carrying garlic, ginger and onion have remained
on board several vessels waiting at the outer anchorage to get a berth,
said CPA officials.
Constant pressure from the CPA and the shipping ministry to resolve the
congestion, has forced the National Board of Revenue and the Bangladesh
Bank to implement several initiatives, like the full-scale re-opening of
the Chattogram Customs House and some branches of banks as well as
allowing all types of imports to be shifted to the private inland
container depots.
The CPA also sent letters to the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and the Chattogram C&F Agents Association to join efforts
to reduce the port congestion.
Chattogram C&F Agents Association secretary Liakat Ali Hawlader said
importers were unable to receive their deliveries on time as the
relevant offices, such as customs house, banks, the plant quarantine
department and the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, have been
maintaining limited operations since the shutdown started.
http://www.shippingazette.com/menu.asp?encode=eng
|
Back:
Next:
