CHATTOGRAM, Mar 19, 2025 (BSS)- Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has launched an initiative to clear estuary of the busy port from unwarranted overstay of lighter vessels in the port mouth after unloading imported goods.

The CPA along with Directorate of Shipping and Coast Guard conducted a joint drive today to pursue the lighter vessels to leave the port territory and estuary after unloading imported goods within 72 hours.

Secretary of the CPA Omar Faruk said the joint drive was conducted to drive out the lighter vessels which have been staying for a long period at the port channels and sea territory laden with imported goods brought from mother vessels at outer anchorage of the Bay of Bengal.

There is a widespread allegation that a section of unscrupulous lighter vessel owners in connivance with importers are using those small carriers as “floating godown” of essential commodities  instead of unloading those within the stipulated time as part of their ill motive to create an artificial crisis of commodities in the market before and during the holy month of Ramadan.

He said on February 26, as a part of the government’s vigorous attempt to keep the commodity market stable during Ramadan, the port authorities asked the lighter vessel operators to leave the port jetties and adjacent sea areas within 72 hours of completion of loading and unloading of goods.

“Today’s combined drive was to monitor whether the lighter vessels are adhering to the directives” CPA secretary said.

CPA magistrates along with Navy and Coast Guard personnel verified the arrival schedules of the vessels as well as time of loading and departure of the stationary lighter ships.

CPA sources said as per rule, it was prohibited to stay at jetty or port channel by the lighter vessels with loaded goods after 72 hours of their arrival.
 
The lighter ships are usually engaged in carrying export-import cargoes to and from port jetties to mother vessels at outer anchorage of the bay as giant ships with high draft cannot enter to the port jetty.

CPA and business circle sources said that a section of unethical importers syndicate using the lighter vessel as floating godown of imported essential commodities instead of unloading and supplying them into market in time as part of their tricky policy to create supply shortage in the market and to make rampant profit cashing the Ramadan market demands.

And , the sources said , due to such ill-policy by dishonest importers , mother vessels with imported goods arrives at Bangladesh sea territory have to overstay at outer anchorage of the port and have to count demurrages due to delay in off-loading home bound cargoes which ultimately results in to escalate domestic market price.

CPA sources said they have conducted such combined drives on more than 1000 vessels during the last three weeks to break the syndication of vessel operators.