With the removal of transport syndicates at Chittagong port, movement of cargo especially by lighter ships has reported a decline in operational costs by 25%. This decline in logistics cost will be passed on to the consumer and will positively influence product pricing in the market.
The transportation of goods from Chattogram port by lighter vessels was earlier controlled by the Water Transport Cell (WTC). Following a dispute between ship owners’ organisations, the Mercantile Marine Office (MMO) established the Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (BWTCC) last April.
However, the BWTCC was not operational because the ship owners did not come together under the organisation. In the absence of these cells, which operated as syndicates, owners and agents of imported goods are now transporting their cargo by hiring ships of their choice.
The MMO individuals, the government authorities responsible for ship registration, along with ship owners and importers, have always preferred not to use any cell or syndicate for transporting goods via naval routes.
