Update: 49 dead in Chittagong depot blasts, US$100 million loss estimated-Fire under control after 25 hours

Twelve fire fighters were among the 49 dead in Saturday’s chemical laden container blast in a Chittagong depot which burnt over a thousand loaded boxes causing financial loss of nearly US$100 million, as estimated.

It took 25 hours to bring the devastating fire under control, blaming the presence of dozens of hydrogen peroxide laden containers  behind the delay, at the depot namely BM container depot, located at 25 kilometres away from the port city of Chittagong.

Earlier on Sunday morning Army...

https://container-news.com/update-49-dead-in-chittagong-depot-blasts-us100-million-loss-estimated-fire-under-control-after-25-hours/

Sub-continent shippers and forwarders switch to bulkers to stay profitable

As container pricing and related supply chain challenges mount amid wild demand swings and capacity imbalances, Indian and Bangladeshi shippers and freight forwarders – in co-ordination with government logistics leaders – have begun switching to breakbulk and other unconventional modes.
Mumbai-based Allcargo Logistics, parent company of less-than-container-load (LCL) consolidation heavyweight ECU Worldwide, is among many freight forwarders offering customers such alternatives.
“We have...

https://theloadstar.com/sub-continent-shippers-and-forwarders-switch-to-bulkers-to-stay-profitable/

New lockdown and suspension of passenger flights hit Bangladesh exports

A capacity crunch, caused by the suspension of international passenger flights, has increased air freight rates out of Bangladesh by up to 30%, with a particular rise in Dhaka-US lanes.
As the Covid-19 situation worsened, Bangladesh’s government enforced a ‘hard-lockdown’ on 14 April and, since then, all regular passenger flights have been suspended.
About 65% of all air freight out of Bangladesh is carried on on passenger aircraft, according to Kabir Ahmed, president of the …

The post New...

https://theloadstar.com/new-lockdown-and-suspension-of-passenger-flights-hits-bangladesh-exports/

Chittagong port demands importers clear dangerous goods stored in its yards

Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is set to quadruple storage charges for dangerous goods (DG) containers.
The aim is to encourage DG importers to clear their cargo while the port deals with rising volumes of hazardous materials.
The authority yesterday issued a notification asking importers and clearing and forwarding agents to take delivery of their DG cargo or face a penalty set to come into force on 1 April, following growing concern …

The post Chittagong port demands importers...

https://theloadstar.com/chittagong-port-demands-importers-clear-dangerous-goods-stored-in-its-yards/

Storage rent doubles as import boxes pile up at Chittagong ahead of Ramadan

Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) this week doubled the rent for FCL import containers staying in the port yard for more than 11 days after the facility became flooded with uncollected boxes, disrupting Bangladesh’s prime gateway.
The number of FCL containers at the port yard exceeded its designated capacity of 34,864 teu, forcing the port authority to store them at places allocated for other boxes.
The penalty was supposed to be introduced on …

The post Storage rent doubles as import boxes pile...

https://theloadstar.com/storage-rent-doubles-as-import-boxes-pile-up-at-chittagong-ahead-of-ramadan/

Bangladesh to crack down on wide non-compliance with VGM regulations

Bangladesh’s maritime administrator has moved to strictly enforce Verified Gross Mass (VGM) requirements for containers amid increasing incidents in Chittagong port and beyond.
On Tuesday the ship registrar of Bangladesh ordered all concerned to comply with VGM requirements as per the SOLAS convention, and port state control officers have been asked to verify loading conditions in three stages during a container’s transfer to vessel.
In August last year, the 1,700 teu OEL …

The post Bangladesh...

https://theloadstar.com/bangladesh-to-crack-down-on-wide-non-compliance-with-vgm-regulations/

More misery for Bangladeshi fashion houses as prices fall below cost

Bangladesh’s apparel makers are now working at below cost – or shutting their doors as lockdowns around the world continue to dampen demand,
The closure of just one apparel factory last week saw 6,000 Bangladeshi workers jobless, and others with no new orders are considering closure .
Lenny Fashions, located in the Dhaka Export Processing Zone, is a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Must Garment, and closed on 1 February, owing to a …

The post More misery for Bangladeshi fashion houses as prices...

https://theloadstar.com/more-misery-for-bangladeshi-fashion-houses-as-prices-fall-below-cost/

Some relief at last for Bangladesh shippers as India offers use of its ports

India has offered Bangladesh shippers the use of its seaports for export and import trade to third countries.
The offer came during a virtual meeting last week between the prime ministers of the two countries, as the regional transhipment hub ports of Singapore, Colombo and Port Klang, with limited manpower during the pandemic and facing severe congestion, are struggling to handle containers.
“We have offered the use of our seaports to Bangladesh for …

The post Some relief at last for Bangladesh...

https://theloadstar.com/some-relief-at-last-for-bangladesh-shippers-as-india-offers-use-of-its-ports/

Colombo port congestion brings extra expense for Bangladeshi shippers

Feeder vessel operators to and from Chittagong and the hubs of Colombo, Singapore and Port Klang are to slap emergency cost recovery surcharges (ECRS) on outbound and inbound shipments to Bangladesh.
The moves comes amid acute congestion at the hubs, linked to pandemic-related reduced numbers of port workers,
Feeder vessels calling at Colombo are facing waits of up to five days and, in Singapore, more than two days to get a berth. …

The post Colombo port congestion brings extra expense for...

https://theloadstar.com/colombo-port-congestion-brings-extra-expense-for-bangladeshi-shippers/

Bangladesh authorities agree cost-saving round-trip container use

After calls from shippers, the Bangladesh government has approved the round-trip use of containers, which is expected to cut lead times and transport costs significantly.
Lead times remain a major concern for Bangladeshi shippers, especially in the apparel sector with their main destinations being western countries. Bangladesh is the second-largest apparel exporter in the world.
Initially, round-trip container use will be allowed for factories at export processing zones (EPZs), but is expected …

https://theloadstar.com/bangladesh-authorities-agree-cost-saving-round-trip-container-use/

Join Our Newsletter
Enter your email to receive a weekly round-up of shipping news.
icon