DHAKA: Maersk Group’s subsidiary Safmarine has announced Bangladesh’s first ever export shipment to be transported on river sea vessels (RSVs), also known as barges.
Two 40 ft containers with garment-on-hanger (GOH) shipments were exported out of Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (ICT), which is the country’s first ICT, as part of a contract with the Japanese APL Logistics.
The facility was previously used mainly for imports due to low confidence of export customers for the trade route.
According to a company statement, the use of RSVs opens up new routes for exporters in the region as it is cost effective, has low lead time and is more reliable than the conventional routes used out of Dhaka.
”The use of this route also negates the use of the over worked rail and road transport systems to Chittagong,” the statement added.
Franck Dedenis, managing director of Maersk Line in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, said: “This is a historic moment for the group as well as for EXIM trade in Bangladesh.
”This export shipment will showcase the country’s renewed focus in promoting import and export in the region.”
The terminal, which has a storage capacity of 3,500 teu, can handle 116,000 teu annually.
