CCCI Boss Echos Call For Better Bangladesh Bunker Rules

Chittagong is Bangladesh's busiest seaport and its metro area has a population of over 5.6 million people.

The President of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Murshed Murad Ibrahim, has today echoed recent industry calls for new bunkering regulations at the country's Chittagong port.

In a statement to the press, the trade body president asked the government to re-design its bunkering policy to be more flexible and in line with international standards, as well promoting both domestic and foreign investment for the port.

Mr Ibrahimm said that unless the bunkering rules change and service at the port improves, it will not only contribute towards a negative image for the port but may also result in the port being treated by the international maritime community as a "no bunkering port" altogether.

"A good number of foreign vessels left Chittagong port over the weeks as fuel supply to them was postponed suddenly. According to a deviation clause of the international rules an extra premium has to be paid for the failure of bunkering, which affects the fare of freight, and Chittagong Port may be declared as a 'no bunkering port'," he said.

The general secretary of the Chittagong Marine Association (CMA), Dost Mohammad, said last month he too thought the current situation was not only poor for the port's image but also forces ships calling at the port to buy their bunkers in Singapore or Colombo.

At present, private companies are not authorised to supply marine fuel at the port with only the Jamuna Oil Company (JOC), which is a subsidiary of the state run Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), able supply fuel to ocean-going vessels.

Supply is currently not available on Fridays and Saturdays, or outside of core working hours.

Ship & Bunker reported last month that ship operators and interested industry players had called for an improved, around the clock bunkering service at the port as well as an opening up of the market to the private sector, and the reintroduction of the sale of fuel directly from oil tankers which was stopped in 2004 after suspicions of corruption.

Murshed Murad Ibrahim was also reported to have written to a number of government officials regarding the matter, including the Home Minister, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, and the Shipping Minister.