Port of Chittagong

DG cargoes galore in Chittagong port mounting risks

Bangladesh’s prime gateway, Chittagong port seems to be under severe risk with approximately 486 tonnes of dangerous goods (DG) cargoes remain stored in its sheds and warehouses.

Steps had been taken to remove the DG cargoes from the port area and stop storing them afresh at port yards after the Beirut blast back in August 2020.

However, one year after the incident, it is found that the port yards are at severe risk due to the presence of a large volume of various types of chemicals.

Some of these...

https://container-news.com/dg-cargoes-galore-in-chittagong-port-mounting-risks/

Chittagong port’s box handling shot up

Container handling by the Chittagong port increased significantly in August compared to July as global trade rebounded.

In August the port handled a total of 251,888TEU, while 228,188TEU were moved through the Bangladesh’s hub in the previous month.

On value-wise export in August rose by 14% year on year to US$3.38 billion from US$2.96 billion a year back.

Data shows that in August the port handled  63,392TEU laden export containers and 63,278 empty outbound boxes. At the same time, the port...

https://container-news.com/chittagong-ports-box-handling-shot-up/

Bangladeshi truckers are on strike spree

Three large groups of truckers, covered vans, and prime movers, which carry cargoes and containers to and from Chittagong across Bangladesh, have called strike later this month to press home their various demands.

Bangladesh Covered Van-Truck-Prime Movers Goods Transportation Owners Association and Bangladesh Truck Drivers Workers Federation called a 72-hour long strike from 21 September demanding to meet their 15 points demands.

Additionally, Bangladesh Truck Covered Van Tank Lorry Prime Mover...

https://container-news.com/bangladeshi-truckers-are-on-strike-spree/

Increased auctions free Chittagong box yard and increase customs authority revenue

The Chittagong Port Authority and the Chittagong Customs have intensified efforts for auctioning cargoes regularly to free space at port yards and also to free containers from being occupied for long period.

Each month at least two auctions are held during the last couple of months to create pressure on the importers to take delivery of containers on time.

After certain days of landing containers from vessels, the port authority sends those to the customs for auction unless the importers take...

https://container-news.com/increased-auctions-free-chittagong-box-yard-and-increase-customs-authority-revenue/

Chittagong port going digital to deliver faster services

The Chittagong port is embracing new technologies gradually to make faster and efficient delivery of services as part of its digital transformation.

The port authority has digitised the entry fee collection to make faster the entrance of trucks in the port premises for transporting containers.

Since 15 September 2021, entry fees will be collected online only, which will reduce the time consumption for fee collection to the highest two minutes from the present 15 to 20 minutes.

At the same time,...

https://container-news.com/chittagong-port-going-digital-to-deliver-faster-services/

Port congestion clears in Chittagong

Although most of the regional and transshipment ports are facing acute congestions, the Chittagong port is now free of vessel crowed.

Container vessels coming to Bangladesh’s prime seaport are getting direct berthing to the jetties without waiting at the outer anchorage.

Sometimes a few vessels need to wait for a few hours for tide to get berthing due to drought requirements. Presently, in Chittagong port vessels with 9.5 meter water draft can take berth with tidal help.

On 12 August, only four...

https://container-news.com/port-congestion-clears-in-chittagong/

Chittagong port to increase box handling capacity by 1 million TEU

The Chittagong port is going to receive equipment worth US$125 million this year to enhance its container handling capabilities.

The new machines, including cranes, reach stackers and straddle carriers, are expected to increase the handling capacity of the major Bangladeshi port from 3 to 4 million TEU.

Chittagong Port Authority chairman, Rear Admiral M Shahjahan said the order is placed for 25 pieces of equipment this year, which will arrive at the port by December or January, while additional...

https://container-news.com/chittagong-port-to-increase-box-handling-capacity-by-1-million-teu/

43 employees, dependents died of Covid in Chittagong port so far

Some 48 employees of the Chittagong port and their dependents died of coronavirus disease since the deadly virus hit the country in March last year. On 4 August alone, four of them died.

Officials said during the last one and a half years of the pandemic period, port operation has not been suspended for a single day thus the labourers had to work taking risk of getting infected.

Every day, hundreds of labourers, truck drivers, shipping agents, representatives of clearing and forwarding agencies,...

https://container-news.com/43-employees-dependents-died-of-covid-in-chittagong-port-so-far/

Priority berth for Chittagong-Colombo ships stops

The Chittagong Port Authority has stopped providing priority berthing to Chittagong-Colombo vessels after export container backlog eased at off docks.

The shipping agents of Chittagong-Malaysia and Chittagong-Singapore routes also made the appeal to stop the priority berthing as their vessels were waiting long days to get berthing.

Now the vessels of Chittagong-Malaysia and Chittagong-Singapore routes are getting berthing in time, at best in three to four days after coming to outer anchorage,...

https://container-news.com/priority-berth-for-chittagong-colombo-ships-stops/

Chittagong handling up in July despite lockdown, holidays

The Chittagong port saw a significant rise in handling containers in July despite lockdown and Eid holidays.

The prime seaport of Bangladesh handled 69,465TEU of laden containers and 42,991TEU of empty export containers in the month. Besides, at the same time, the port also handled 115,189TEU of laden and 543TEU of empty import containers.

Earlier, in June the port handled 63,770TEU of laden and 60,989TEU of empty export containers alongside 119,692TEU of laden and 190TEU of empty import...

https://container-news.com/chittagong-handling-up-in-july-despite-lockdown-holidays/

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