Unload goods in 3 days or face action: shipping adviser to lighter vessels

Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain today warned of tough action if any lighter ship fails to unload goods within three days of reaching the wharf.

He issued the directive at an inter-ministerial meeting at the shipping ministry’s meeting room to resolve various crises involving lighter ships engaged in transporting goods from mother vessels.

The adviser instructed the director general of the Department of Shipping to prepare a list of all importers and product agents who are not unloading goods from lighter ships on time.

He also directed the commerce ministry to publish the list in the media and cancel the licences of the responsible individuals or organisations.

Noting that demand for consumer goods in the domestic market has increased significantly ahead of the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, the adviser said the number of mother vessels carrying goods at Chattogram port in January was higher than usual.

“Meanwhile, some unscrupulous traders are using lighter vessels as floating warehouses to raise the price of goods ahead of Ramadan. This has been creating an artificial shortage of lighter vessels to unload goods from mother vessels,” the adviser said.

The Department of Shipping has already formed three special task forces to address the lighter vessel crisis. These task forces are regularly conducting operations in Narayanganj, Jashore, Noapara and other important waterways of the country, including mobile courts.

The adviser said significant progress has already been made due to the task force operations, and it has been possible to supply a total of 735 lighter vessels to mother vessels at outer anchorages through the BIWTC (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation).

Hussain added that the Lighter Vessel Management Software (App), equipped with modern information technology, was launched on January 30 this year to bring transparency and discipline to lighter ship management.

“If this software is used in ships, it will be possible to track them around the clock,” the shipping adviser said.

Referring to inspections carried out since January 15, the adviser said the task force has been conducting strict operations in Shitalakshya and Dhaleshwari in Narayanganj, Buriganga in Dhaka, Meghna in Munshiganj, Ashuganj in Brahmanbaria, Karnaphuli in Chattogram and the Bhairab River in Noapara, Jashore.

“A total of 455 lighter ships have been closely inspected by the task force during the operation. Thirteen ships have been fined Tk 115,000, and a case has been filed against two organisations for waiting more than 40 days with food products at the outer anchorage,” he said.

The shipping adviser noted that the task force’s vigilance will continue.

Shipping Secretary Dr Nurunnahar Chowdhury and heads of various departments and organisations were present at the meeting.