FROM PAGE B4

stakeholders to remove empties by August 7 or face quadrupled storage charges.

Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA) in a letter to the CPA on Wednesday said the responsibility of removal of empty containers from the port yards are under full jurisdiction of CPA.

The association urged the CPA to drop the higher rent plan and instead facilitate more empty container loading slots on outbound ships.

“Since the ICDs are also over occupied by empty containers they are unable to take in new ones,” said BSAA leader Muntasir Rubayat.

Mentioning that almost 40 percent of empties are now at the overflow yard of NCT, and many are lying there for 20 to 30 days, Rubayat said, “Transfer of empties from overflow yard to the port yards for loading onto ships is not frequently done by the berth operators.”

He said BSAA has repeatedly raised concerns regarding the prolonged dwelling of empties at the overflow yard.

As per current port regulations, store rent for empty containers is charged at $6 per TEU for the first 7 days, $12 per TEU from the 8th to the 20th day, and $24 per TEU per day thereafter.