Fuel shortage slows inland cargo movement

A worsening fuel oil crisis linked to the Middle East conflict has disrupted lighter vessel operations at both Chattogram and Mongla ports, slowing cargo unloading, increasing ship turnaround time and causing heavy financial losses for importers, traders and industrial factories.

Lighter vessels, which unload cargo from large mother vessels at outer anchorages and transport goods through inland waterways, are struggling to obtain adequate diesel from depots.

Industry stakeholders warn that if fuel supply is not normalised quickly, inland waterway cargo transportation could come to a standstill.

At Chattogram Port, lighter vessel owners say they have not been receiving the required diesel from depots since the Middle East war began.

State-run energy suppliers are receiving limited fuel from Padma, Jamuna and Meghna Petroleum, which is insufficient compared to demand.

Although the Lighter Ship Owners’ Association has written twice to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources seeking a solution, no effective action has yet been taken.

Lighter vessels unload goods from mother vessels anchored at the outer anchorage and transport cargo through about 50 inland waterways across the country.

Diesel is supplied by marine fuel dealers who collect fuel from depots in the Padma, Meghna and Jamuna river networks and deliver it by tanker.

According to the Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (BWTCC), around 1,050 of the country’s 1,200 registered lighter vessels are regularly engaged in cargo transportation, while more than 250 additional vessels are operated by industrial groups.

On average, 70 to 80 lighter vessels are booked daily, requiring nearly 250,000 litres of diesel. However, only 60,000 to 70,000 litres are currently being supplied.

Parvez Ahmed, director of Mutual Shipping, said lighter vessels are unable to operate normally due to the shortage.

“We do not have oil dealerships and rely on marine dealers, but they are failing to provide sufficient fuel.

A vessel needs 3,500 to 4,000 litres of diesel to travel from the outer anchorage to Dhaka and return, but only 700 to 800 litres is available.

With this supply, vessels can load cargo but cannot reach their destinations or return,” he said, noting that there are no refuelling facilities along inland waterways.

Port sources said about 80 mother vessels carrying wheat, food grains, fertilisers and industrial raw materials are currently waiting at the outer anchorage and Kutubdia channel of Chattogram Port, increasing demurrage costs.

A similar crisis has emerged at Mongla Port, where unloading and transportation activities have been severely disrupted due to inadequate fuel supply.

Hundreds of lighter vessels have remained idle in the Pashur River and in Khulna’s Rupsha ghat areas, creating a shortage of operational lighters and delaying cargo unloading from mother vessels.

Mohammad Rezaul Islam, master of lighter vessel MVR Rashid-01, said his vessel had remained idle for nearly a week due to lack of fuel.

Md Mamun of Seven Circle Cement Factory in Khulna said commercial ships are incurring delay charges of about $17,000 per day due to the shortage of lighter vessels, while raw material supply to the factory has declined and finished cement cannot be transported nationwide.

Azadul Haque, AGM of Sheikh Cement Factory, said clinker transportation has stopped due to fuel shortages, forcing production to halt and leaving workers unemployed.

Lighter vessel owner Md Khokon said marine dealers are unable to supply oil as depots are not providing adequate fuel.

H. M. Dulal of Messrs Nuru & Sons, a marine dealer and agent of Meghna Petroleum in Mongla, said fuel demand has increased due to dredging, agricultural expansion and rising port activity, while supplies remain limited.

Meghna Petroleum’s Mongla operations manager Engineer Prabir Hira said fuel distribution is being managed according to government instructions due to global supply constraints.

Industry stakeholders warn that unless fuel supply improves soon, operations at both Chattogram and Mongla ports could face prolonged disruption, affecting national supply chains, industrial production and inland waterway transportation.