At least four ocean-going fishing vessels were unable to depart for deep-sea fishing from the Karnaphuli River jetty on Monday due to a shortage of fuel, raising concerns over disruptions to fishing and cargo transport operations.
The vessels—Deep Sea-02, Sea Master, ARK and Joe-Endavor—were scheduled to begin a month-long fishing voyage but could not sail as Jamuna Oil Company failed to supply the required diesel.
The four vessels require around 220 metric tons of diesel in total for the trip, industry insiders said.
Stakeholders said the problem is not limited to these vessels, as fishing boats returning to Chattogram after completing their voyages are also facing fuel shortages.
The situation has raised concern for around 200 deep-sea fishing vessels operating regularly from Chattogram.
A similar crisis has affected nearly 2,000 lighter vessels engaged in transporting cargo from the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port.
Many of these vessels have been unable to sail to their destinations due to inadequate fuel supply, disrupting cargo movement.
Industry insiders said the situation has been aggravated by global uncertainties linked to the Iran–Israel conflict, which has affected fuel supply and demand.
Fishing vessel owners said deep-sea fishing requires full preparation, including carrying enough diesel for an entire month-long voyage.
“There is no option to reduce fuel intake for such voyages,” they said, adding that although authorities claim fuel tankers are available at the port, the actual situation is different.
They warned that the fishing sector could face serious setbacks if the crisis persists.
Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Association (BMFA) President Enam Chowdhury told Times of Bangladesh that scheduled fishing voyages have already been disrupted.
“Fishing vessels are unable to operate according to schedule due to the shortage of fuel. This could disrupt the marine fish supply chain,” he said.
According to BMFA, there are 268 registered fishing vessels in the country, of which 232 operate in the Bay of Bengal.
Each vessel requires around 60 metric tons of diesel for a month-long voyage.
Nearly 200 vessels operate regularly, meaning the sector requires around 12,000 metric tons of diesel each month.
Without at least 60 metric tons of fuel per voyage, vessels cannot safely undertake deep-sea fishing operations.
The shortage has also disrupted lighterage operations.
Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (BWTCC) Spokesperson Parvez Ahmed said lighter vessels have not received fuel since Thursday.
“The dealers from whom we buy fuel say Padma Oil, Meghna Petroleum and Jamuna Oil distribution networks under Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) have not been supplying oil since then,” he said.
He said 80 to 90 lighter vessels normally load cargo daily from various points at the outer anchorage and Kutubdia areas of the port.
Each vessel requires at least 3,000 litres of diesel, meaning any disruption in supply directly affects cargo loading and transportation.
Stakeholders warned that if the situation continues, cargo unloading operations at the outer anchorage could halt within a few days, affecting import trade and the domestic supply chain.
Lighter vessel owners also complained that fuel depots are no longer supplying diesel as before, while tanker operators transporting fuel through inland waterways are also struggling to secure adequate supplies.
Traders said lighter vessels play a crucial role in unloading imported goods at the outer anchorage.
Food grains, fertiliser, coal, clinker and consumer goods are transported to the mainland through these vessels.
Any disruption in lighterage operations could therefore affect port activities as well as the broader supply chain.
Jamuna Oil Company Deputy General Manager (Operations) Md Zashim Uddin told Times of Bangladesh that the company has already submitted a list of fuel requirements for its fixed customers to BPC on Monday.
“Some ships took extra fuel due to uncertainties linked to the Iran–Israel conflict,” he said, although he insisted there is no overall fuel crisis at present.
Meanwhile, a coordination meeting on ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply and bunkering was held on Sunday at the conference room of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), chaired by CPA Chairman Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman.
Participants said the country’s fuel reserves remain satisfactory and there is sufficient capacity to meet demand.
They said the maritime, commercial and industrial sectors will continue to receive fuel as required and an action plan has been adopted with the participation of stakeholders to maintain a stable supply system.
However, vessel owners said the situation on the ground remains different.
They noted that while fuel rationing may be possible for road transport, ships cannot sail without carrying the required fuel reserves for maritime and riverine operations.
