The Hindu Business Line : Kolkata port regulations hit barge movement from Bangladesh

Bangladeshi barges have stopped calling at Kolkata port. The reason: strict enforcement of relevant regulations by Kolkata Port Trust with regard to fitness of the vessels.

An estimated 1.5 million tonnes of traffic, comprising fly-ash from power plants, gypsum, rice and steel goods, are exported by barges from Kolkata port to Bangladesh. The movement has come to a halt because most Bangladeshi vessels do not have the valid certification from any international classification society.

The port authorities have stipulated that any barge moving in and out of the port must have valid certificate from approved international classification society confirming its fitness; alternatively, it will be allowed to load up to 70 per cent of its declared capacity. The stipulation has hard hit the Bangladeshi flag vessels which account for the bulk of the trade by the river route between India and Bangladesh.

Worse, they charge such a low freight that they do not make money unless they load to their full capacity. But then the Kolkata port authorities have little choice. In past one year, there were as many as four disasters in the Hooghly river, all involving Bangladeshi flag barges unworthy of undertaking voyages.

More Stories on : Shipping/Ports | West Bengal

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