Foreign feeder vessel operators allege harassment by authorities towards obtaining waiver certificate

Alleged harassment by authorities concerned about obtaining the mandatory waiver certificate is increasing shipping cost and time.

According to reports the allegation of harassment has been made by foreign feeder vessel operators even as an emergency meeting was held at the Bangladesh Shipping Agents’ Association office recently on the issue and attended by representatives of foreign feeder vessels plying on various transshipment routes.

Reports further added that as per the Bangladesh Flag Vessels (Protection) Rules, the waiver certificate is supposed to be issued by the Mercantile Marine Office within three working days of the application even while the foreign feeder operators said that the process was taking at least 10 or more days, as a result of which, even after the ship reaches the port, ship owners do not reportedly get permission to load containers consequent to which they reportedly have to pay hefty fines ranging from US $ 10,000 to US $ 20,000 while waiting, depending on the size of the ship.