Monday, 22 March 2010 20:41
Background
Shippers’ Council of Bangladesh is the National Association of the Shippers formed in 1979 at the initiative of the Government in the Ministry of Shipping to protect the interest of the shippers and to coordinate between different agencies involved in transportation of international cargo. It is licensed as a trade body under the Trade Organization Rules and registered under Company’s Act 1913. Shippers’ Council of Bangladesh is recognized by UN-UNCTAD and UN-ESCAP.
During 1980 Bangladesh’s export was expanding in non-traditional items like garments, finished leather and frozen food. Foreign Shipping Lines which used to carry our international cargo were then very organized and had formed shipping cartels known as Liner Conferences. To promote and protect the interest of the Shippers as against the Shipping Conferences Shippers had to be organized as a collective body known as Shippers’ Council. Shippers’ Council of Bangladesh thus offers a consultation machinery for consultation with the Liner Conferences as required under Article – II, Vol. – II, of the UNCTAD code of conduct for Liner Conferences. It also coordinates between different agencies involved in transportation of international cargo to remove any bottleneck in smooth and quick transportation.
Services/Activities
Shippers’ Council resolves the day to day problems of the Shippers and exporters in respect of shortage of shipping space, delay in delivery, short delivery and non-delivery of foreign trade cargo to the consignee.
Shippers’ Council maintains regular surveillance of port conditions, port charges and port services, freight rates of Railways, Trucks and Waterways for safe, prompt and economic carrying of export/import cargo.
Shippers’ Council monitors freight rates charged by the Shipping Lines and the justification behind freight increase, so that the Shippers interest does not hamper. Steps taken by the Shippers’ Council succeeded in stopping proposed freight increase by IPBC in 1982, in deferring freight increase by CALCUSA Lines in 1983, in reducing the rate of freight increase by SCI in 1984 and thereafter in deferring freight increase proposed by IPBC in 1984, in withdrawing congestion surcharge imposed by CFTC in 1996. Shippers’ Council activities stated above saved Bangladeshi Shippers from payment of millions of dollars excess freight and charges.
It organizes and holds workshops/seminar to educate the Shippers, Exporters and Transport operators about shipping formalities and modern transportation of export/import cargo.
It collects necessary trade information and statistical data from related agencies and publishes these in its magazine “Shipping News” for use by the shippers, Shipping Lines and transport operators.
It deals with problems faced by shippers/shipping lines in getting waiver under the provisions of Flag Vessels (Protection) Ordinance 1982.
Shippers’ Council meets enquiries from shipper for vessel/space for transportation of their cargo and tries to help them.
This Council represents the shippers in various Committees and Advisory Bodies constituted by Government, specially relating to shipping and port operation.
This Council gives advice to Government whenever any shipping problem arises.
Shippers’ Council provides as a common forum for mutual consultation and cooperation between Shippers and Shipping Lines/conferences/Agents and other concerned authorities on matters of their common interest. Shippers’ Council always acts as a means of linkage and coordination between Shipping Lines/Agents and Shippers communities for achieving their common objectives of smooth trading operation by ships at ports thus benefiting both the parties.
Shippers’ Council assists the shipping lines to get maximum cargoes for shipment in their ships.
Shippers’ Council tries to remove the problems often faced by shipping lines in loading ready cargoes at port in their vessels due to waiver restrictions of Bangladesh Flag Vessels (Protection) Ordinance 1982.
Shippers’ Council assists the shipping lines to get priority and convenient berthing of their export vessels at our ports.
Shippers’ Council holds its Liaison Committee Meeting with the representatives of shipping lines and shippers where cargo forecasts, arrival and departure schedules of vessels and other related problems discussed and resolved through mutual discussion.
Shippers’ Council of Bangladesh tries to resolve container handling and transport problems faces by shipping lines at Dhaka Inland Container Depot (ICD) and at other ports.
Shippers’ Council frequently organizes workshops/seminars on modern shipping technology and Multimodal Transport System in collaboration with ESCAP and UNCTAD for training officials of shipping lines/agents and others about technique of modern shipping and transport system to enhance their knowledge and efficiency.
