Foreign container feeder ships operating between Bangladeshi seaports are experiencing excessive delays in obtaining the “waiver certificate” that is necessary for them before loading goods.
The Bangladesh Flag Vessels Protection Act of 2019 and the recently released shipping regulations gave priority to Bangladeshi flag-carrier ships when carrying cargo to ports in the nation. A foreign vessel must ask for a waiver from the Mercantile Marine Administration 15 days before the loading schedule.
The marine office will then submit the application for approval to the Bangladesh Oceangoing Shipowners Association (BOGSOA) and Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC). However, foreign shipping agents complain that instead of three working days, they now have to wait more than a week to receive a waiver certificate.
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