Unloading of goods from large vessels at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Sea Port has come to a virtual standstill due to a severe shortage of lighter vessels, triggering concerns over the supply of essential commodities ahead of Ramadan.
According to port sources, as of January 15, at least 108 cargo ships are waiting at the outer anchorage and the Kutubdia channel, carrying more than 4.5 million tonnes of goods. Over 85 of these vessels are anchored in deep sea, unable to discharge cargo due to the unavailability of lighter ships—shallow-draft barges used to transfer cargo from large mother vessels to shore, a process known as lighterage.
Among the stranded ships, 17 are carrying around 1.2 million tonnes of Ramadan-related food items, including wheat, maize, soybeans, chickpeas, pulses and edible oil. In addition, five vessels are carrying over 200,000 tonnes of sugar, seven are transporting fertiliser, and 25 ships are loaded with cement clinker.
Ship handling operators said the disruption has significantly increased costs, with each mother vessel incurring an average demurrage of Tk 16 lakh per day. Under normal conditions, a 50,000-tonne vessel completes unloading within seven to ten days using lighter ships. However, due to the current crisis, waiting times have stretched to 20–30 days.
Industry insiders blamed the situation more on mismanagement than an actual shortage of vessels. Several lighter ships carrying food grains have reportedly been floating for months without unloading at designated destinations, as importers use them as floating warehouses. This has prevented the vessels from returning to regular service, exacerbating the shortage.
Business leaders described the crisis as “artificially created.” While some large industrial groups operate their own lighter vessels, most importers depend on allocations through the Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (BWTCC). The mismatch between demand and allocation has brought unloading activities for more than 50 ships to a halt.
Sarwar Hossain Sagar, president of the Bangladesh Ship Handling and Berth Operators Association, said that while 200–300 lighter ships are required daily for smooth operations, only 30–40 are currently available. “This has nearly paralysed cargo movement,” he said.
The BWTCC attributed the crisis to dense fog and the engagement of around 140 lighter vessels in fertiliser transportation for the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation. However, traders argued that fog-related delays were temporary and that poor coordination and oversight were the main reasons behind the disruption.
Parvez Ahmed, vice-president of the Inland Vessel Owners Association of Chattogram, said there are around 1,200 lighter ships under the BWTCC, with about 300 currently heading to Mongla port. He added that nearly 687 vessels have not returned after unloading from the outer anchorage, severely affecting ship availability.
“Normally, a lighter ship completes unloading within three to five days. Now, many have been idle for one to one-and-a-half months,” he said.
Former Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association director Khairul Alam Sujan called for strict monitoring and immediate intervention. He urged authorities to stop the use of lighter ships as warehouses and suggested that the Ministry of Shipping convene an urgent meeting of all stakeholders.
Warning of a possible food crisis during Ramadan if the situation persists, Sujan proposed allowing importers with idle vessels to use alternative ships on an emergency basis to unload essential food items, which could help ease congestion at the port.
