One and a half hours of a journalist on a Chinese ship
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Climbing up the iron deck of a massive container vessel anchored at Chittagong Port on the banks of the Karnaphuli River is quite risky. A single wrong step, a slip, and one could fall directly 30 feet down into the swift river current. You might survive the fall, or you might end up crossing to the afterlife. After carefully making my way up to the ship's deck, I was greeted by the Chinese crew. I wrote my name and identity in the entry log and started walking through the narrow passageways. A Chinese crew member led the way ahead.
I had previously experienced traveling to China on a Chinese airlines. So I was thinking about the strange odor during meal service on the flight that would cause discomfort. I wondered if this ship would have that same discomfort. No, nothing like that. I climbed up the narrow, sparkling clean stairs to the sixth floor, where the ship's captain sits, navigate and steer this 186-meter-long vessel. In shipping terminology, this is called the 'bridge'. While climbing from the stairs to the bridge, a gentle, sweet fragrance refreshed both body and mind. I began to wonder about such a change on a Chinese ship. Curiosity grew. And, I found the answer as well.
Asawad Khan Sayem, an executive from the ship's local agent, Fampha Solution Limited, said, "These ships are kept very clean and tidy. There is no kind of unpleasant odor at all. From the moment they enter Bangladeshi waters, the sailors become very cautious and conscious about everything, from food and drink onwards. They have great respect for Muslims."
The ship's captain, Jiu, said, "This ship was built two and a half years ago. It arrived at Chittagong Port carrying containers from Port Klang in Malaysia. This ship is operated by a crew of 20."
The newness of the ship is evident in every layer. The color of the stairs, the design of the partitions, the spotless floor of the vast bridge, the fresh green plants placed in tubs attached to the windshield (the bridge window), the control system (the ship's wheel)—everything carries the essence of newness. The crew's neat uniforms, their cordial behavior, and their sweet smiles all exude charm. To host the journalists, they even brewed famous Chinese red tea using an electric kettle placed on the bridge and offered it to us. The Chinese sailors showed great sincerity regarding what kind of support the journalists might need. They opened both doors on either side of the bridge, allowing us to step onto the balcony and enjoy the view of the Karnaphuli River and the port.
Standing on the beautiful, neat, and spacious balcony, the vast green fields on the other side of the Karnaphuli River come into view. The river's turbid flowing current has its color muddied by the rain. A small tugboat, raising waves against the current, is racing towards the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Karnaphuli, which is the estuary, located 16 kilometers away. As soon as you turn to the north side of the bridge, you see the massive gantry cranes. The rows of cranes look like a procession of yellow. On one side, loaded containers are being unloaded from the ships, and on the other, export containers are being loaded onto the ships. The deafening noise during the loading and unloading rings in the ears. Whenever a problem arises in automated handling, instructions are given via microphone. Meaning, nothing stops; nothing is allowed to stop. In the port yard, there are piles of thousands of containers in various colors. Not just boxes of goods worth crores of taka, but rather a festival of colors.
After the work was done, the ship's captain, Chinese national Captain Jiu, invited us to his office-cum-residence. The bridge is on the upper deck of the ship, from where it is operated. Below the bridge is the captain's floor. On one side of the vast floor is a table and chairs. Beside it, rows of shelves are attached to the partition, filled with countless files. A computer sits on the table. From here, he can monitor the entire surroundings and movement of the ship. There is another dining table nearby, arranged with soft drinks, drinking water, biscuits, cakes, and other light snacks. Captain Jiu handed those to us. After we ate, he brought another round of various foods from the fridge for us to take away. All of them were made in China.
Someone, amazed, exclaimed from the side, "Such a beautiful office and living quarters for the captain! I also wish to become a captain. But I don't have the age anymore."
Captain Asif Ahmed, a pilot from Chittagong Port standing nearby, said, "They provide so many amenities that it's hard to easily break free from this enchantment."
The ship's name is 'SITC Humming'. With a capacity of 2,698 containers, this ship brought 1,551 containers to Chittagong Port and will take away 1,500 containers.
Final farewell. We came down to the deck. Captain Jiu shook my hand firmly and said, "There is a wonderful friendly relationship between Bangladesh and China. I have come to this port numerous times. The people here are very good."
