Crisis in the outerbar of Mongla port: the acquisition of Fairway products, three times the expense of the traders

Due to Navy Crisis in the Atterbar area of ​​Mongla port, a ship of 10 meter draft can not enter the main channel of the port. As a result, the big ships have to be discharged on the fairway by acquiring small ships. It costs at least three times more than the usual cost of port users.

The port authorities said that the depth of the port channel has now come down to seven and a half meters. As a result, no more vessels have been able to move in the port. The cost of importers is rising due to anchor at Fairway, which is affecting the domestic market. Port users have demanded increase in navigability through the dredging of the port channel and in the Outerbar area. According to them, if this happens, the ships of more drafts will be able to get to the port. In this, the port will be benefited, as well as the arrival of the ships at the port will also increase.

Chairman of Bangladesh Shipping Agent Association and Managing Director Captain Md. Starup C. Rafiqul Islam said that in the middle of January, foreign ship MTM Pegasus carrying 40 thousand tonnes of oil from Brazil came to Fairway in Mongla port. Due to low navigability in the outerbar area, the 10 meter draft ship could not enter the main channel of the port. As a result, the ship had to be discharged to keep the ship at Fairway. It cost three times more money. The ship was brought to the port of the port channel, to Harbariya or any other channel of the channel, but the cost was very low.

Captain Rafiqul Islam also said, the shipping users including shipping agents have long been demanding dredging in the Outerbar area. But the work is not doing anything. Over the years, the big ships have to be discharged at Fairway. If the seven-eight nautical mile waterways are dug out of the outerbar (from Fairway to Hiron Point), then this problem will be solved and large vessels of more draft can be increased in the port. He said that many of the businessmen are still reluctant to use Mongla port as large ships could not move to the port.

Mohammad Harun's master commander Mohammed Darul Huda said that the ship with a height of seven and a half meters is now able to reach the port. The initiative of dredging in the Outerbar area has been taken. When the dredging ends, the ship of 10 meters will be able to ride on the harbor easily.

Commodore AKM Faruk Hasan, chairman of Mongla Port Authority, said 10 projects have been taken up for the development of Mongla port. Of these, the channels will be dredged in the food silo area. If it is implemented, the vessel can enter the 10 meter draft ship in the port channel.