Ctg port back to life, container jam eases
Staff Correspondent, Ctg
Chittagong port sprang to life with delivery of about 4,000 containers in the last three days thanks to different steps taken by the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) to ease congestion.According to port sources, a total of 1,219 twenty equivalent units (TEUs) of containers were delivered from the port during the last 24 hours until 8.00 am yesterday against the usual daily rate of 1000 TEUs. During the period, a good 1,632 containers were loaded on vessels berthed at the port jetties and 1,245 containers were offloaded, said the sources adding 55 more containers were also taken to inland container depot by rail wagons. However, as of yesterday, about 19,798 TEUs of containers still remained stockpiled at the port. Sources said around 21,000 containers were piled up at Chittagong port, designed for around 1,400 containers, until January 9 due to poor container delivery during the Eid vacation and suspension of delivery during the countrywide blockade programmes. The congestion created a serious space crisis threatening suspension of cargo handling at the country's premier seaport. The CPA on Saturday cancelled leaves of all port officials, staffs and employees for the next six months and also took measures to ensure round-the-clock operation even during the weekly holidays-- Friday and Saturday. It also decided to keep open branches of two banks of the port until 8:00 pm. The CPA also revived the monitoring cell in a bid to bring back complete normalcy at the port within two weeks. "We've taken some steps that would help ease the serious container congestion and hopefully the port will be back to normal operations within 10 to 15 days," CPA Secretary Syed Farhaduddin Ahmad told The Daily Star. The CPA officials also sought sincere cooperation from the importers and exporters to speed up the port operations. "Our efforts will not bring any immediate fruit unless the importers and exporters come forward and cooperate with us by taking quick delivery of their containers," said an official seeking anonymity. The port official alleged many importers and exporters developed a habit of keeping containers in the port yards for weeks instead of taking delivery. Earlier on Thursday, the government in a circular declared the port service 'indispensable' for the next six months. Regarding the circular, the port secretary said the government just renewed its 'old order' considering the overall situation.
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