From 10 February
onwards, up to 30.48 tonnes of goods can be carried in a TEUs container, the
Office of the Director (Traffic) of CPA said in a circular on 9 February.
“Classification,
dimission and ratings of 20ft and 40ft containers with a Maximum Gross Weight of
30,480kgs shall be accepted at the Port of Chattogram,” reads the circular.
However, the Chittagong Port
Authority will not provide any facility for handling containers above the ISO
prescribed weight limits.
In such cases,
concerned shipping agent/MLO will make necessary arrangements at their own
cost, risk and responsibility and CPA’s permission should be sought prior to
arrival of such containers.
Earlier, a maximum
of 24 tonnes of goods were handled in a TEUs container and a maximum of 30.48
tonnes in a 40-foot equivalent units (FEUs) container.
“After 25 years,
Chattogram port issued the circular allowing both 20 and 40 feet containers to
carry 30.48 tonnes. The port is following the ISO standard,” Abdullah Jahir,
chief operating officer (COO) of Saif Maritime Ltd, told The Business Standard.
Importers earlier
faced difficulties in transporting scrap products in 20ft containers. Although
a 20ft container can carry more than 24 tonnes of scrap goods, shipping lines
are not allowed to transport more than that due to the weight limit set by the
port authorities, said people related to shipping.
The new decision increasing
weight limits for TEUs containers will reduce transportation costs as more
goods can be carried in 20ft containers, which will create a positive impact on
product prices, said traders.