Freight Forwarding Process: Work Process to be resumed in normalcy

The arrival of container vessels and freight forwarding process will resume normal operation soon, the officials from Myanmar Port Authorities said.

An average of 70 container vessels docked at Yangon Port per month before the COVID-19 outbreak.

During the pandemic, around 60 container vessels docked at the port early this year. The numbers gradually declined with only 27 vessels in April. But the numbers started to increased in May with 35, and as of 25th June, 38 vessels docked at Yangon Port.

Deputy General Manager, Int’l Relations and Human Resources Dev’t Dept., Ar Kar said "We can handle an average of 70 vessels in a month till March 2020 and it gradually declines. And in April this year, we have seen around 50% decline in handling the vessels compared to the previous years. But starting May, we saw an increase in the arrival of container vessels. So, I hope the operation will be back to normal soon and handling of commodity goods will get better by a month."

Myanmar Port Authorities also grant permission for the container vessels with a 9.5-meter draught for the convenience of the freight forwarding process and a better supply chain system.

Master Attendant, Marine Department (Myanmar Port Authority), Win Myint Aung said "The container vessels operated in early 2021 is with 9-meter draught. According to the exporters' demands and better navigation system, we gave permission for the vessels with 9.5-meter draught at the inner areas of the Yangon Port starting 10 April. 4 vessels have been docked at the port so far, and exported broken rice to Belgium and beans to Malaysia by these vessels."

During March and April 2020, a new water channel, King’s Bank Channel, was discovered at the mount of Yangon River and started using this new channel in June by allowing the vessels with 9.3-meter draught.

And in April this year, the vessels with 9.5-meter draught were granted for using this water channel.

Master Attendant, Marine Department (Myanmar Port Authority), Win Myint Aung said "Allowing of the vessels with 9.5-meter draught in 2021 is the new history of Myanmar. We can make turnarounds with the 9.5-meter draught vessels. The old water channel, Monkey Point Channel, is not suitable for that vessels. Previously, the width of the navigation was 120 meter. Due to the rising of sedimentation, the navigation becomes narrow and the width was only 70 meter which is too dangerous for the container vessels. To grant vessels with deeper draught, the waterway must be clam and we should always measure and dig the waterway. We can bring many goods within one time. So, it will be beneficial on the related works."

It is learnt that many international shipping lines have also resumed their normal operations starting May.