News / Foreign ships at Chittagong delayed as Bangladeshi lines eye their cargo

© David Mckee

Foreign containerships calling at Chittagong are facing long delays before they can load containers at the port.

Under the Bangladesh Flag Vessels Protection Act 2019, and more recently implemented rules, domestic ships get priority when carrying containers to and from Chittagong.

Foreign ships can only carry Bangladeshi cargo if no local vessels are present, or they must apply to the Mercantile Marine Office of Bangladesh, for a waiver certificate 15 days before they want to load or offload cargo.

The waiver application goes ...