Even after more than two weeks, Chittagong’s private inland container depots (ICDs) are still under a great deal of pressure because there are still almost twice as many export containers there as there often are.
There is currently a significant backlog at the depots, which is making it difficult to meet shipment deadlines. Depot owners claim that export items that arrived more than 20 days ago have not yet been dispatched.
They said that the recent anti-discrimination student action, which caused two stages of disruptions to port operations, was the primary cause of the backlog at the depots and the port.
According to the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA), the number of export containers at private depots typically ranges from 7,000 to 8,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). However, since 6 August, this figure has remained at an elevated 14,000 to 15,000 TEUs.
As of Tuesday, the figure stands at 14,215 TEUs, nearly double the normal capacity.
Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, vice president of the BGMEA, said the congestion has led to a shortage of empty containers, preventing the loading of export products at depots.
“Exporters are concerned that if goods are not shipped on time, they may face cancelled orders or be forced to offer discounts,” he added.
Exporters and depot owners contend that additional ships from Chattogram port must be deployed to remove the backlog.
In July, Maersk Line launched SH3, a new shipping route that adds one ship every week to Chittagong port via several Asian ports. Furthermore, on 31st August, Pacific International Lines (PIL), the mainline operator, plans to provide a new route from Ningbo, China. This service will include the addition of a weekly vessel to Chittagong.
In addition to adding more ships to the transshipment routes connecting Chattogram port with transshipment ports like Singapore and Colombo, traders anticipate that these new services from PIL and Maersk Line will help ease the congestion at the port.
Shamsuddin Ahmad Chowdhury, secretary of the Bangladesh Container Shipping Association, told local media that the congestion has extended ship turnaround times at the port.
“Previously, ships could enter the jetty within a day after arriving at the port’s outer anchorage, but now it takes five to six days, reducing the number of voyages per ship from 2.2 to 1.6 per month. This has increased costs and time for shipping companies,” he added.
Despite the new shipping services, Shamsuddin warned that the situation is unlikely to return to normal before mid-September due to the current berthing arrangements at the port.
Currently, around 90 container ships operate from Chittagong port to transshipment hubs, each capable of carrying between 1,600 and 2,400 export containers. After being offloaded at these hubs, the containers are transferred to larger vessels for transport to Europe and the United States.
