Congested activities at Chattogram Port prompt appeals for truthful journalist coverage
The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has taken steps to regulate vessel traffic at the port in an effort to reduce congestion and improve operational efficiency. The port, which handles 98% of the country's container traffic, operates between Chattogram and major transshipment hubs such as Singapore, Port Klang, and Tanjung Pelepas.
The CPA's actions are a response to high vessel queues leading to longer waiting and turnaround times, which strain port operations and affect the supply chain. The authority has requested a 15% reduction in the number of approved geared and gearless vessels operating at the port to lower congestion caused by an increase from 96 vessels permitted earlier to 118 vessels at times, leading to extended anchorage waiting times and delays.
Operational backlogs and yard congestion have further justified the need for reducing vessel numbers to ensure smooth port functioning. However, these regulations have faced criticisms and opposition from shipping stakeholders, who argue that cutting vessel numbers could disrupt trade, increase freight rates, and negatively affect export-import activities, particularly risking the continuity of global shipping lines’ scheduled operations to Bangladesh.
To ensure compliance, the CPA has set deadlines for shipping agents to reduce their vessel lists by 15%, with a six-member committee formed to oversee implementation and scrutiny. Specific berths have been allocated exclusively to geared vessels temporarily to organize operations better. Lighter vessels are directed to exit port limits within 72 hours after loading to prevent unnecessary congestion inside the port. The CPA is also revising port charges substantially to align tariffs with operational costs and maintain sustainable service levels, which may indirectly influence vessel operations and compliance.
Despite these measures, the temporary vessels that were approved earlier this year to help clear congestion are still in operation, raising the current feeder vessel count to around 130. These disruptions were triggered by Middle East tensions and caused significant backlog at transshipment ports.
The CPA has formed a monitoring committee to ensure that the agreed measures to scale down the number of vessels are implemented. The authority has reiterated its commitment to a business-friendly environment and urged all stakeholders to cooperate fully in restoring balance to vessel traffic and maintaining the port's operational efficiency. The CPA's press release on August 6, 20XX, signed by Port Secretary Md Omar Faruk, clarified the reasons behind the steps taken to regulate vessel traffic at the Chattogram Port. The CPA's recent steps to regulate vessel traffic are aimed at ensuring long-term operational efficiency.
Financing for the port's operational improvements may come from the increase in port charges, as the CPA aims to align tariffs with operational costs and maintain sustainable service levels. To improve the overall business ecosystem, the authority has implemented regulations to reduce vessel congestion in the transportation industry, particularly in the finance sector, where disruptions in the shipping industry could impact trade and global supply chains.
