After Europe, direct container shipping is also starting in the UK. Allseas Global Logistics Company, a UK freight forwarding and shipping company is going to launch this service. If all goes well, the first ship to head to the UK, ‘MV AMO’, could reach Chittagong port on 15 May. News: Prothom Alo
Currently, a company in Europe has a direct shipping service. Direct shipping services of two more companies including new ships will be launched next month. This will enable export products to be delivered to foreign buyers in less time and at a comparatively lower cost.
Under the new service, ships carrying export goods from Chattogram will first go to Rotterdam port in the Netherlands via Suez Canal. After unloading goods there, the ship will arrive at the port of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. Similarly, it will return to Chattogram with containers carrying imported goods.
Captain Syed Sohail Hasnat, Chief Executive officer of Phoenix Shipping Limited, a local representative of Allseas Global Logistics Company’s ship, said that the new service could deliver goods from Chattogram to the UK within 23 days. It now takes about 35-40 days to reach the UK via Singapore and Colombo.
On 7 February, for the first time, the service of transporting goods directly from Chattogram to Italy was started. The service was launched by Reef Line, an Italian freight forwarder, and its partner, Calypso Compania de Navigation. The company has so far imported and exported goods five times in two ships, and it took 18 to 20 days. Commodity Supplies AG, a Swiss supplier, then announced the launch of direct shipping services to two more European destinations next month. They are launching three ships next month to transport container goods directly from Chattogram to Spain and the Netherlands.
The Chittagong port is providing policy cooperating in the launching of direct shipping service. That is why one company after another has come forward. This will reduce the dependence on exports through the port of Singapore and Colombo port in Sri Lanka. This is because, at present, the container cargo exported from Chattogram to Europe-America is first taken in small container ships to Singapore, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Port Kelang, Malaysia, and Tanjung Pelepas. After unloading at these four ports, bookings are made and shipped to Europe-America. Thus, it usually takes 24-28 days to transport container goods from Chattogram through Singapore or Sri Lanka to European countries. However, due to delays in getting bookings on big ships in Singapore or Sri Lanka since COVID-19, in some cases, it is taking more than 30 to 35 days.
Chittagong Port Chairman Rear Admiral M Shahjahan said that it is possible to deliver export goods exported to foreign buyers in less time through direct shipping services. Priority is being given to direct shipping services to take the export sector forward. We are cooperating with those who are taking initiative.
The ships that are being unloaded under the new service have comparatively higher container carrying capacity. The San Alfonso ship has a capacity of 1,819 single containers. In addition, MV AMO is capable of carrying 1,730 single containers and BBC Finland is capable of transporting 1,501 single containers.
Syed Nazrul Islam, first Vice-President of BGMEA, said, ‘The more direct shipping services are introduced, the more the country’s garments sector will be ahead of the competing countries. If the number of ships under the service increases, it will be a complete success.’
