Chittagong Port Authority News

Sometimes being an industry supplier offers interesting insights – your business is touched by the ups and downs of the charter market, but you are never so involved in it that you lose sight of the big picture. Some of our clients have been hit hard by the market’s general downturn; one client I visited last month began 2008 with 41 maritime software licenses for their vessels – just seven remain today. “We just sold another ship yesterday,” he said, and then after a pause: “Please spare me the update costs for this one, it won’t receive any.” Of course, I nodded.

An indefinite strike by lorry drivers halted deliveries from Bangladesh's main Chittagong port on Tuesday, port officials said. "The deliveries have been stopped as lorry operators refused to carry cargo from this morning in protest against restriction on the unauthorized movement of trucks," an official said. A Chittagong Port Authority directive said only registered trucks could operate in the port. "We will not operate if the restriction is not withdrawn," said an official from the Chittagong Port Truck Owners Association. Approximately 3,000 trucks transport 30,000 tons cargo to and from the port daily, a port official said. The port officials said nearly 30 ships were moored at jetties and outer anchorages…