Shipping ministry hikes on-board container handling fee by Tk175 to ease port tensions

To ease tensions between shipping agents and operators at Chattogram port, the shipping ministry has decided to raise the on-board container handling charge for vessels at the General Cargo Berth by Tk175, bringing the total fee to Tk734.53 per container.

The decision to revise the fee was made during a tripartite meeting held on Tuesday (6 May) at the ministry, attended by representatives from the ministry, shipping agents, and berth operators.

The adjustment aims to ease tensions between shipping agents and berth operators at the General Cargo Berth and ensure smooth port operations.

According to the Berth Operators Association, the on-board handling fee was originally set at Tk350 in 2007, with 60% allocated to operators and 40% to workers. 

While workers have received a 10% annual increase in their share since 2016, the fees for container operators have remained unchanged, causing growing dissatisfaction. With the increases over the years, the total charge per container rose to Tk559.53, with Tk210 going to operators and Tk349.53 to workers.

Now, with the newly announced Tk175 increase, the berth operators' share will rise to Tk385, while the workers' share will remain unchanged.

The move comes in response to a prolonged dispute between shipping agents handling domestic and international vessels, and berth operators responsible for container handling at General Cargo Berth.

Multiple efforts by the Chattogram Port Authority to mediate the disagreement, including convening meetings and collecting oral and written feedback from both sides, failed to yield a consensus.

Although the port authority attempted to impose a rate based on the chairman's recommendation, it was not implemented, prompting the Ministry of Shipping to intervene directly.

Fazle Ekram Chowdhury, president of the Berth Operators, Ship-Handling Operators, and Terminal Operators' Owners' Association, told The Business Standard, "We had requested an increase to Tk350 for our share. The port authority had suggested Tk250, but the ministry approved only Tk175. We are disappointed. 

"The Shipping adviser has approved this rate for six months, and we hope it will be adjusted to a fair level in the future."

Despite several meetings convened earlier by the Chattogram Port Authority to resolve the rate issue, no agreement was reached due to a wide gap between the rates proposed by the two parties. 

On 6 March, the authority formally requested the ministry's intervention. Another meeting followed on 9 March under the chairmanship of the port's Harbour and Marine Member, but differences persisted.

The port authority renewed its call for intervention on 23 April, highlighting the need to ensure uninterrupted port operations, consistent market supply, and smooth import-export activities. In response, the Ministry of Shipping convened the decisive meeting on 6 May, leading to the fee adjustment.