International shipping companies operating at the Chittagong port have decided to slap an extra charge on Chittagong-bound cargo because of delays caused at the port. The companies have also decided to increase freight charges, shipping officials informed. The surcharge of US $ 100 per TEU container bound for Chittagong will come into effect from August 15. Singapore based organisations of feeder operators – Chittagong Feeder Trade Committee (CFTC) and Asian Feeder Discussion Group(AFDG) – took the move to readjust rates and recover emergency costs on Chittagong port bound cargo. Congestion at berthing caused unnecessary delay to feeder ships at Chittagong port, officials said. The freight, meanwhile, had to be adjusted to increase in charter hire price. A senior official of a foreign shipping company on condition of anonymity said ‘our feeder ships loaded with import cargo had to wait between seven and nine days at the outer anchorage to get berthing for discharge of cargo.’ ‘Consequently, the member companies of CFTC and AFDG incurred huge losses in operating their feeders to and from Chittagong port,’ he added. ‘If the situation at Chittagong port becomes normal the surcharge may be withdrawn later,’ he further added. The move to hike freight charges by US $ 85 per TEU container was taken in a bid to restructure the freight charges following an increase in charter price of ships. Besides Chittagong port, the new rate will be applicable for feeder cargo bound for some other ports including Ho Chi Min and Haiphong ports of Vietnam, Kolkata and Haldia of India, Colombo of Sri Lanka, Penang and Port Kelang of Malaysia and Singapore. Member(administration) of Chittagong port authority(CPA) Jafor Alam admitted feeder ships had faced ‘little’ delay and congestion due to recent inclement weather amid cyclone and Eid holidays. ‘But now it is going to ease and the situation will improve,’ he claimed. Ahsanul Huq Chowdhury, vice chairman of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA) said congestion hit Chittagong port due to arrival of more vessels during Ramadan and the pre-budget period as traders imported a huge amount goods.
