SIMIC

DISPUTES between berth operators and shipping agents have slowed handling at six jetties at the Port of Chattogram, reports the Dhaka Daily Star.

Container handling has slowed recently due to berth operators' non-cooperation in completing documentation.



The disruption stems from a long-standing conflict between shipping agents and berth operators over raising onboard container handling charges.



Berth operators have been managing the six container jetties at the port's oldest terminal since 2007, the General Cargo Berth (GCB), where geared vessels are handled.



Shipping agents currently pay BDT559.53 (US$4.93) per container as onboard container handling charge to these operators for loading and unloading activities.



Berth operators have proposed raising this fee for months, a move opposed by the shipping agents.



Syed Mohammad Arif, chairman of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA), termed the proposed hike "illogical" in a letter to the member for harbour of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) on December 19 last year.



The situation escalated on January 4, when berth operators reportedly began non-cooperation in documentation processes, coinciding with the berthing of two vessels, MV San Pedro and MV JT Glory, at the GCB.



Local shipping agents for these vessels alleged that berth operators stopped sending export loading plans to private off-docks, processing import discharge and export permissions from the CPA's shipping section.



These actions disrupted operational activities, as off-docks require export loading schedules to send containers to vessels.