Chittagong Bureau :The empty containers yet to be removed from Chittagong Port yard despite imposing four time rents on empty containers . Port sources said the off-docks of containers are not willing to keep the empty containers , as such this situation arises inside the port sheds. To resolve the situation over the arising situation, a meeting with the shipping agents, operators was held at port conference hall with Port chairman in the chair. Port sources said the capacity of storing of empty containers in port shed is about 5,500 TEUs whereas the port shed was filled with 6,300 TEUs container. Director (Transports) of CPA Golam Sarwar told the media that despite imposition of of four times penalty over the storing of the empty containers within port shed but these containers are being not removed . He also said lack of space in the sheds, the unloading of new imported containers from foreign vessels could not be done timely . Member(Admin & Planning) Jafar Alam told this correspondent that ship congestions arised due to Ramadan and Eid festival and the foreign vessels asked to leave the port in due time , as such a number of vessels left the port without loading empty containers. He said offdocks of the containers are not willing to store empty containers with present normal rates as they deserves more profits from these containers. Mentionable that Chittagong port faced this problems in 2007 but the port authority compelled mandatory every vessels to carry 250 empty containers in each trip.Port sources said the numbers of empty containers may exceed 9000 by end of this month which will hamper the loading, unloading activities and movement of handling equipments.
