Congestion hits Ctg port

Chittagong port has been facing vessel congestion over the last few weeks, delaying berthing schedules to many ships waiting at the outer anchorage.

Port officials attributed the congestion to a hike in inbound vessel traffic, fewer working hours during Ramadan and rains that slowed container handling.

Container vessels have been experiencing a delay of two to eight days in receiving berthing permission, making them wait at sea and incur losses, according to representatives of shipping liners.

Kota Wangsa, a vessel run by Pacific International Lines (PIL), arrived at the port's outer anchorage on July 13 and had to wait for six days to get permission to berth.

Ayutthaya Bridge, another container vessel coming in from the Malaysian port of Kelang, arrived at the outer anchorage on July 15 and received permission to berth at a port jetty only yesterday, said Shahed Sarwar, executive director of the vessel's local agent -- K Line Bangladesh. Usually a container vessel needs to stay at the port for a maximum of three days; getting permission takes a day, while goods can be loaded or unloaded within two days.

The average stay time has increased up to 12 days, while ship liners allege that it costs at least $10,000 a day when a ship overstays.

Due to overstays, the export goods to be carried by feeder vessels to different ports in Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka could miss the connecting vessels to European countries, said Sarwar. Ten vessels have been waiting at the outer anchorage for the last five to six days, while only one got permission to berth on July 20.

Productivity in container handling went down by 60 to 70 percent for the rains, as most equipment went out of order and needed repairs.

Golam Sarwar, director of the traffic department of Chittagong Port Authority, said the congestion was mainly because of the extra rush in gearless container vessels that have no cranes on them. The port only has two jetties equipped with gantry cranes, to berth such gearless vessels and at that time, other vessels need to wait at sea, he added.

Officials hope congestion will ease after the Eid-ul-Fitr when port activity will resume in full swing.