The newly created dedicated platform, Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (BWTCC), commenced operations today by reintroducing a single serial system for allocating lighter vessels for the transportation of imported cargo through inland waterways.

However, the three conflicting organizations of light ship owners reconciled after the dispute, split up and operated separately for over 11 months before operating together again.

The newly formed cell also announced a new freight tariff for ships plying from the outer anchorage of Chattogram port to more than 37 destinations across the country, reduced by 4 to 5 per cent compared to previous rates.

Director General of the Ministry of Shipping (DoS), Rear Admiral Mohammad Maksud Alam, inaugurated the cell’s ship docking meeting activity at a ceremony held at the BWTCC office in Agrabad Trade Zone in the port city at noon today.

Alam expressed hope that by adhering to the single serial system and ship allocations managed by the coordination cell, discipline will be restored in cargo transportation via inland waterways from capital ships at the outer anchorage of Chattogram port.

He said that in order to make the maritime sector safe, fair and orderly, like other transportation sectors, lighter ships should carry goods under a serial system.

Leaders of three shipowners’ organizations were also present at the ceremony.

As per the new schedule, the base load for carrying cargo from the outer anchorage of Chattogram port to Dhaka, Narayanganj and adjoining destinations has been fixed at Tk 550 per tonne, from the previous base load of Tk 574 per tonne.

It is applicable for the transportation of cargo such as base freight, clinker, cement industry raw materials.

BWTCC Convener Sayeed Ahmad told The Daily Star that an additional freight charge is often imposed on top of the base charge as goods such as wheat, lentils, food grains such as commodities and fertilizers are shipped in small quantities per ship.

Sayeed noted that extra freight rates also decreased by over 25 percent. For example, the extra freight for transporting wheat has been pegged at Tk 60 per tonne, down 24 per cent from the previous rate of Tk 79.

Earlier, on October 15, the Ministry of Shipping issued a notification introducing a new policy of the Department of Shipping (DoS) regarding cargo transportation by lighter vessels in inland waterways.

The policy requires the newly formed BWTCC to specifically manage the planning, allocation of lighter vessels and setting of freight rates.

According to the policy, no light ships, except those belonging to factories and industrial groups, will be allowed to carry cargo without allocation from BWTCC.

In 2004, three organizations (Bangladesh Cargo Ship Owners Association (BCVOA), Chattogram Inland Ship Owners Association (IVOAC) and Coastal Ship Owners Association of Bangladesh (COAB)) jointly established the Water Transport Cell (WTC) to ensure coordination. lighter ships for transporting import cargoes.

However, the leadership dispute between BCVOA and IVOAC over control of the WTC and trade continued for several years.

As a result, on December 19 last year, IVOAC leaders left WTC and began operating the ships independently.