Ship operations from Cox’s Bazar town to the Saint Martin’s Island began on Thursday, with the advent of this year’s tourism season that will last till March.

The journey began after MV Karnaphuli, a cruise ship carrying 750 passengers, set sail for the coral island from the district’s BIWTA Ghat at about 7:30am.

However, ship movement on the usual Teknaf-Saint Martin’s route has remained suspended by due to the emergence of chars in various parts of the Naf river.

Samrat Chowdhury, a tourist who was travelling to the Saint Martin’s Island with his family, said that although his long-cherished wish of visiting the island has been fulfilled, it would be nicer if he could go to Teknaf through the Marine Drive road and make the journey from there.

Hossain Islam Bahadur, Director of MV Karnaphuli, said that the ship is set to leave Cox’s Bazar at 7:30am and reach the Saint Martin’s at 12:30pm, while it will start the return journey at 3:00pm and reach the BIWTA Ghat at 8:30pm.

Mujibur Rahman, Chairman of Saint Martin’s Union Parishad, said that they have taken allout preparations to welcome the tourists.

Read: Tourist ship operations suspended on Teknaf-Saint Martin's Island route

“Tourists are coming to the Saint Martin’s Island after seven months. The government has taken various steps to protect the biodiversity and environment of the island. We’re conducting awareness-raising campaigns so that tourists don’t pollute the island. Also, a total of 120 hotels-motels and 50 restaurants are ready to meet the demand for accommodation and food of the tourists,” said Mujibur.

Tofayel Ahmad, President of Sea Cruise Operators’ Association Bangladesh (SCOAB), talked about the danger of operating ships on the Teknaf-Saint Martin’s route.

“A fighting has been ongoing between the Myanmar army and Arakan Army for the last two months across the border, which is located just beside the Naf river where the tourist ships used to ply,”  he said.

On the other hand, he said, some chars have also emerged in Naf River’s Bandar Mokam and other points, where ships have a chance to get stuck.

“So, we’ve accepted the government’s move to stop movement of ships on this route,” said Tofayel.

Some ship owners told UNB that besides MV Karnaphuli, two more ships are going to be added to the fleet within the next 30 days.

On October 15, a ship --MV Baro Auliya--with a capacity for 550 passengers will start its journey, while another ship --Bay One--with a capacity for 1500 passengers will start operating from Chattogram’s Patenga to the coral Island from November 3.

Md Erfanul Haque Chowdhury, the acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Teknaf, provided some reasons why ship operations between Teknaf-Cox’s Bazar have been suspended.

Read: Cyclone Yaas: Unusual tides destroy Saint Martin's jetty

“The Naf river is facing a navigability problem due to the emergence of multiple chars at the confluence of the river and Myanmar’s Naikkhongdiya area. In recent times, the media has published news of tourist ships getting stuck in these chars for hours,” said Erfanul.

Also, a total of seven timber-laden trawlers coming to the Teknaf Land Port from Myanmar capsized in the Naf river after colliding with these chars, he said.

 “That’s why the government has advised the ship owners to search for alternative routes,” he said.