Ship-Breaking Industry Seeks 5-Year HKC Extension

Bangladesh's ship-breaking industry seeks a five-year extension for Hong Kong Convention (HKC) compliance and reclassification from "red" to "orange" to reduce bureaucratic delays. Currently, only seven shipyards have green certification, while 15 more are in process.

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has removed fixed freight rates, allowing vessel owners and mainline operators to negotiate charges freely. The previous fixed rate, imposed in 2022, faced strong opposition from businesses due to high costs and irregular vessel movement. To improve efficiency, CPA has also mandated a fixed vessel schedule, ensuring at least five vessels per month on the route.

Container handling at Chattogram Port increased by 5.21% in February 2025 compared to February 2024, reaching 228,184 TEUs. This rise was driven by increased imports, exports, and empty container movement. Import cargo handling grew by 3.05%, while export cargo handling increased by 7.12%.

The Power Division and Payra Port Authority are in dispute over Tk1,225 crore in maintenance fees for the Rabnabad Channel, used by the Payra coal-fired power plant. The port demands Tk385 crore for maintenance from January 2021 to November 2024 and an additional Tk839.65 crore for annual dredging, based on a Statutory Regulatory Order from May 2023.

Banglabandha land port, once a key trade hub connecting Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Bhutan, is facing a severe downturn due to its reliance on Bhutanese stone imports. Daily truck arrivals have plummeted from 300–400 to just 60–70, leading to a revenue drop to Tk 91 crore in January.

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has mandated that lighter vessels must leave the port area within 72 hours of unloading goods to prevent supply chain disruptions and price manipulation. Issued on 26 February 2025, the directive warns of legal action under the Chittagong Port Authority Act 2022 and the ISPS Code for non-compliance.