Container movement at Chattogram has been impacted by the unrest and riots in the lead up to, and following, the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The situation reached the point that many embassies have issued do not travel notices for Bangladesh. The US has ordered the departure of non-emergency US government employees and warned that flights out have been disrupted. The main airport serving Dhaka was closed on 5 August. This is also affecting air cargo operations.

The Chittagong Port Authority has been operating its terminals, but at reduced capacity, mainly due to a shortage of labour. Curfews have been in place at various times. Vessels are waiting for a berth and importers have been clearing lower numbers of container from container yards.

In comments to WorldCargo News Hapag-Lloyd said Chattogram remains operative, “but with low terminal productivity due to the unrest situation and restrictions on truck and trailer movements. There is ongoing congestion in the yards due to undelivered import containers as well as an increase in vessel anchorage outside the port and berthing delays. The situation is supposed to improve with further release of containers by importers. However, an impact on the schedule integrity of vessels calling the port is to be expected.”

In an advisory Maersk Line said the government of Bangladesh lifted the curfew as of 6 August, and businesses are allowed to operate during normal hours again. Cellular communications and internet were disrupted, but were back running on 7 August.

“All our employees are safe and accounted for. Maersk counters are operational with a skeletal team to support customers who are walking in. All other employees are currently working from home,” the carrier said.

Maersk added the Customs processes are working, but there are few officials on site and this is slowing operations. Maersk’s Container Freight Station is still staffed, but with some factories closed “we are seeing limited movement of trucks into the CFS.”

There are reports from India that cross border trade using trucks has halted when customs processes stopped operating, stranding hundreds of trucks. Bangladesh is the largest market for India’s cotton exports.

The situation is also affecting seafarers. The Director General of Shipping for India has issued an advisory warning seafarers against signing off or on from any ports in Bangladesh. It advises vessel operators to reschedule crew changes to alternative ports and re-evaluate any prior commitments they have made with respect to Bangladesh.

The advisory goes further and says vessel owners and vessel agents are “advised to avoid berthing vessels at ports in Bangladesh, as far as possible and practicable to prevent any potential risks or uncertainties that could affect the safety and integrity of the vessel and its crew on board.”

Container movement at Chattogram has been impacted by the unrest and riots in the lead up to, and following, the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The situation reached the point that many embassies have issued do not travel notices for Bangladesh. The US has ordered the departure of non-emergency US government employees and warned that flights out have been disrupted. The main airport serving Dhaka was closed on 5 August. This is also affecting air cargo operations.

The Chittagong Port Authority has been operating its terminals, but at reduced capacity, mainly due to a shortage of labour. Curfews have been in place at various times. Vessels are waiting for a berth and importers have been clearing lower numbers of container from container yards.

In comments to WorldCargo News Hapag-Lloyd said Chattogram remains operative, “but with low terminal productivity due to the unrest situation and restrictions on truck and trailer movements. There is ongoing congestion in the yards due to undelivered import containers as well as an increase in vessel anchorage outside the port and berthing delays. The situation is supposed to improve with further release of containers by importers. However, an impact on the schedule integrity of vessels calling the port is to be expected.”

In an advisory Maersk Line said the government of Bangladesh lifted the curfew as of 6 August, and businesses are allowed to operate during normal hours again. Cellular communications and internet were disrupted, but were back running on 7 August.

“All our employees are safe and accounted for. Maersk counters are operational with a skeletal team to support customers who are walking in. All other employees are currently working from home,” the carrier said.

Maersk added the Customs processes are working, but there are few officials on site and this is slowing operations. Maersk’s Container Freight Station is still staffed, but with some factories closed “we are seeing limited movement of trucks into the CFS.”

There are reports from India that cross border trade using trucks has halted when customs processes stopped operating, stranding hundreds of trucks. Bangladesh is the largest market for India’s cotton exports.

The situation is also affecting seafarers. The Director General of Shipping for India has issued an advisory warning seafarers against signing off or on from any ports in Bangladesh. It advises vessel operators to reschedule crew changes to alternative ports and re-evaluate any prior commitments they have made with respect to Bangladesh.

The advisory goes further and says vessel owners and vessel agents are “advised to avoid berthing vessels at ports in Bangladesh, as far as possible and practicable to prevent any potential risks or uncertainties that could affect the safety and integrity of the vessel and its crew on board.”