Thanks to the Chattogram Port Authority’s technological initiatives and measures to speed up the delivery process, the average waiting time for cargo vessels at the outer anchorage has been reduced to almost zero. Bulk and container ships carrying import goods are now getting berthing access at the main jetty without any delay, saving shipping companies millions of dollars.

Last August, Chattogram Port faced severe vessel congestion. Mother vessels had to wait 5 to 7 days at the outer anchorage to get a berth at the main jetty. To bring the situation under control, the port authority even decided to exclude at least 15 ships from the fleet.

Syed Mohammad Arif, former chairman of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, said, “Transport strikes, the National Board of Revenue’s pen-down strike, and a series of holidays together created a disruptive situation in the shipping sector. But with cooperation from various parties, the problems have been resolved.”

With political stability returning in September, the vessel congestion at the port began to ease gradually. Now every cargo vessel is entering the main jetty directly from the outer anchorage. Commodore Amin Ahmed Abdullah, Member (Harbour and Marine) of the Chattogram Port Authority, said, “In October, no vessel had to wait at the outer anchorage, and that trend has continued in November. This improvement has been possible due to adherence to effective strategies and procedures.”

Previously, each vessel had to pay US$15,000 to US$20,000 per day in demurrage while waiting at the outer anchorage. With congestion reduced, businesses are now free from that extra cost. Chattogram Port Secretary Omar Faruk said, “Reduced waiting time benefits the port, businesses, and the general public. If a ship had to wait 5–6 days before, the fixed costs for shipping agents increased, which also impacted consumers.”

Imports and exports have also improved between July and October. During this period, Chattogram Port handled 1.2 million containers and 45.2 million metric tons of cargo. A total of 1,422 cargo vessels arrived—a rise of 11 percent compared to the same period last year.

Fazle Ekram Chowdhury, chairman of the Chattogram Port Berth Operators Association, said, “Reduced waiting time has lowered the number of vessels anchoring at the port. This has sped up operational activities and significantly reduced costs.”

Currently, an average of 15 ships are receiving berthing facilities at the main jetty each day. More than 8,000 containers are being handled daily for import and export, of which about 4,000 containers are being delivered directly from the port.