Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Marking of Weight (Packages Transported by Vessels) Convention, 1929 (No. 27) - Bangladesh (Ratification: 1972)

In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide a copy of the regulations on the marking of weights for the ports of Chittagong and Mongla and to examine the possibility of extending the scope of application of the regulations to other maritime ports, as well as to ports of inland navigation, such as the port of Chalna, if such regulations were found to be necessary. The Committee notes the indication that, in view of its economic importance (92 per cent of trade), modernization projects have been concentrated on the maritime port of Chittagong to enable it to meet international standards. The Government also reports the modernization of the maritime port of Mongla and the activity of the new port of Payra since November 2013. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that it may be envisaged to include the issue of regulations for the marking of packages within the context of the review of the 2006 implementing regulations of the Maritime Labour Convention. The Government indicates that for this purpose it has initiated a project for the development of Bangladeshi maritime legislation. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged in the context of the project for the development of maritime legislation on the marking of packages weighing one metric tonne or more for transport in order to ensure the full application of the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate the marking rules currently applicable for transport by inland waterway and, in the absence of such rules, to envisage their adoption in the context of the current legislative project, with a view to ensuring the application of the Convention for both maritime and inland ports.

The Committee also notes the adoption by the Department of Shipping of Order No. 01 of 2016 issuing guidelines for implementing amendments to Regulation 2 of chapter VI of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) entering into force with effect from 1 July 2016 concerning the verified gross tonnage of freight containers. The Committee observes that this Order is a measure that contributes to the implementation of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide any information that it considers useful on the implementation of Order No. 01 of 2016 of the Department of Shipping.