DG Shipping launches software to digitise inland, coastal vessel management
The system includes an SOS emergency alert to ensure rapid response during accidents at sea, automatically notifying authorities and nearby vessels.
Bangladesh's inland and coastal shipping sector entered a new phase of digital transformation today (30 January) with the launch of an advanced "Lighter Vessel Management Software", aimed at ending long-standing irregularities in lighter vessel operations and bringing full transparency to serial and allocation management.
The software was formally inaugurated at 10:30am at the Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (BWTCC) office at Kaderi Chamber in Agrabad, Chattogram.
Chief Engineer and Ship Surveyor of the Department of Shipping Mirza Saifur Rahman inaugurated the system as the chief guest.
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Long-standing problems
For years, stakeholders have complained about delays, irregularities, and lack of transparency in the process of assigning serials and allocating lighter vessels for cargo handling from mother vessels at Bangladesh's seaports, particularly at Chattogram port's outer anchorage.
The process remained almost entirely manual, involving handwritten applications, physical visits, multiple approvals, and repeated data entry.
This not only slowed operations but also created room for manipulation, disputes, and a growing trust deficit among vessel owners, importers and agents.
Taking advantage of the system's loopholes, several importers have allegedly been using over a hundred lighter vessels as floating warehouses.
To address these structural weaknesses, the Department of Shipping, under the leadership of its director general and BWTCC president Commodore Md Shafiul Bari, oversaw the development of a fully digital platform in line with the Cargo Transport Policy 2024.
Digital shift
Speaking to The Business Standard, Commodore Shafiul Bari said allegations over serial manipulation were a direct result of the outdated manual system.
"Irregularities surrounding lighter vessel serials have persisted for a long time because the process was never digitised. This software will ensure transparency, efficiency, and restore confidence among all stakeholders," he said.
BWTCC officials said the platform will initially automate serial issuance and vessel allocation, with pilotage, demurrage settlement, and other operational modules to be added gradually.
Locally developed
The Lighter Vessel Management Software was developed with technical support from Jahaji Ltd, Bangladesh's first technology-based inland shipping company.
Officials said Jahaji worked on the system for more than three and a half years, tailoring it to local operational realities and regulatory requirements.
This marks the first time Bangladesh has introduced a dedicated, end-to-end digital platform for managing lighter vessel serials and allocations.
How serials will now be issued
Under the new system, once a lighter vessel reaches the designated Patenga zone, ship staff can apply for a serial through a mobile application by uploading a photo of a previous trip's boat note.
The entire process can be completed in minutes.
Geo-fencing technology has been integrated to enforce a strict "first-come-first-served" policy, effectively eliminating serial bypass.
Officials responsible for approval will receive real-time notifications, verify vessel location and bay-crossing status, and approve serials with a single click.
Once approved, automated notifications will be sent to vessel owners, carriers, local agents, and ship staff, confirming the serial number and approval time.
Transparent berthing and allocation
The software also digitises the berthing meeting and allocation process. Importers, carriers, or cargo agents will no longer need to submit handwritten demand letters.
Instead, they can create digital demand requests by entering cargo type, quantity, loading and unloading points, number of vessels required and the relevant mother vessel.
During berthing meetings, allocations will be made strictly in serial order through the system, leaving no scope for manual interference.
Allocation lists will be instantly shared with all stakeholders and can be downloaded or printed if required.
Solving disputes with data
Demurrage has long been one of the most contentious issues in lighter vessel operations.
The new Jahaji platform addresses this by digitally tracking vessel movement from serial issuance to cargo loading, voyage completion and unloading.
Time-stamped and location-based records will show when a vessel received a serial, when it was allocated, when loading and unloading began and ended, and how long it waited at each stage.
Officials said this "forensic-level" data will significantly reduce disputes and delays in demurrage settlement.
Safety, compliance, real-time updates
The system includes an SOS emergency alert to ensure rapid response during accidents at sea, automatically notifying authorities and nearby vessels.
It also provides real-time weather alerts and daily operational status updates directly to stakeholders' mobile phones.
Digital profiles of masters and drivers, including experience records and mileage tracking, have been introduced to support safer operations and better workforce management.
Digital compliance and payments
All compliance-related documents, including survey certificates and bay-crossing permissions, will be stored digitally within the app.
Automatic alerts will notify users ahead of expiry dates, making renewals faster and reducing the risk of non-compliance.
Pilotage payments will also move to a digital coupon system, allowing users to pay fees directly to BIWTA through mobile financial services or banks, removing the need for physical coupons and manual stamping.
BWTCC officials said the automation will cut costs, save time and remove opacity from lighter vessel operations, while aligning Bangladesh's maritime practices with global standards.
They expressed hope that the initiative would play a key role in strengthening port efficiency, supporting trade growth and advancing the country's blue economy ambitions, with Chattogram serving as the pilot location before wider rollout across the country.
