Saint Martin season opens but no ship has permission yet, tourist transport uncertain
Although the tourist season has begun at Saint Martin, no tourist-carrying ship has yet received permission to operate on the Cox's Bazar-Saint Martin sea route. Seven ships applied for route permits, but the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has approved none of them because the required documents were not submitted.
As a result, although travel to Saint Martin opened on November 1, tourist transport has still not begun.
BIWTA said seven tourist ships applied for route permits to operate from Nuniyarchhara ghat to Saint Martin. However, approval could not be given because the applications lacked the necessary certificates and documents.
The applicant ships are the MV Karnaphuli Express, MV Baro Aulia, MV Teknaf, MV Keari Cruise and Dine, MV Keari Sindabad, LCT Kajol and MV Bay Cruiser-1.
BIWTA officials said the ships must submit updated survey certificates, proof of payment of the route permit fee, conservancy clearance and voyage licences, among other documents. A decision on route permits will be made only after those papers are verified.
Nayan Shil, deputy director of BIWTA's Chattogram division and Cox's Bazar river port, said permission will be granted only after verifying everything necessary, including the ships' fitness, keeping passenger safety in consideration.
According to the authority, the distance from Nuniyarchhara to Saint Martin is about 200 kilometres. For ships that have not sailed at sea for a long time, emphasis is being placed on verifying the required certificates and fitness to ensure a safe journey.
Meanwhile, under the environment ministry's revised decision, tourists can visit Saint Martin and stay overnight from November 1, 2026 to March 15, 2027. A maximum of 3,500 tourists can travel to the island each day.
But although travel has opened, uncertainty over tourist transport remains because the ships have no route permits. The ship operators are trying to submit the required documents quickly, according to those concerned.
