Following the launch of a direct shipping route to Europe in February of this year, a direct freight route to the United Kingdom (UK) is now poised to launch, drastically reducing shipping time and cost. The initial consignment will be operated by Allsees Global Logistics Company, a UK freight forwarding and shipping company, using the ship MV Amo, which is slated to arrive at Chattogram port on May 15th.
“We have approved three ships to operate in several UK ports, including Liverpool. We are also giving quick approval to companies applying for shipping on the new route,” said Chattogram Port Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Shahjahan.
MV Amo is scheduled to carry export goods from Chattogram to Rotterdam port in the Netherlands via the Suez Canal. After unloading goods at Rotterdam, the ship will head for the port in Liverpool. It will return to Chattogram with import-bound goods.
Captain Syed Sohel Hasnat, chief executive officer of Phoenix Shipping Limited, a local representative of Allsees Global Logistics Company, said that the direct route will shorten shipment time to 23 days, which earlier used to be 35-40 days via Singapore and Colombo.
Other than MV Amo, Allsees will deploy two other ships – MV BBC Finland and MV San Alfonso – on the new route, the container carrying capacity of the three ships being 1,730TEUs, 1,500TEUs and 1,819TEUs, in that order.
Syed Mohammad Arif, chairman of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, termed it a positive development for Bangladesh’s economy.
“Increased freight traffic will boost competition among shipping companies. As a result, freight charges and business costs will be reduced,” he added. Earlier on 8 February, a direct freight route from Chattogram to Italy went operational under the Italian freight forwarder Reef Line and its partner, Calypso Compania de Navigation.
