As the CPA and port users at a meeting on Thursday requested the feeder operators to defer their decision, they [feeder operators] said they will convey their decision Saturday (today).

Calling for postponement of surcharge imposition until mid August, CPA however formed an eleven-member committee to find ways to ease the congestion at Chittagong Port.

Addressing the meeting, BGMEA Vice-President SM Abu Tayyab came down heavily on the move for congestion surcharge.

The BGMEA will not pay any congestion surcharge since the garment unit owners have nothing to do with the congestion, Tayyab added.

The garment exporters will rather demand compensation for not getting timely delivery of their goods, said the BGMEA leader.

Five feeder operators through a notice on May 5 threatened to impose the surcharge of $130 on each TEU (twenty equivalent unit) container unless the congestion at Chittagong Port is eased and the turn around time of vessels is reduced to a tolerable limit by one month that expires on June 4.

The feeder operators said the long queues of ships at the outer anchorage and huge congestion of containers at the terminal yards are the main reasons for imposing surcharge.

On the other hand, CPA officials blamed the feeder operators for contributing to the congestion as the vessels carry containers much below their capacity.

The CPA sources said they will get at least two berths ready for operation by the end of July to ease the congestion and five berths at the under construction New Mooring Container Terminal by the end of this year.