Ctg Correspondent
A three-member US delegation will arrive in Chattogram to oversee the security arrangement of country’s prime export-import gateway of Chattogram Port. Chattogram port Authority, CPA officials said that the special delegation of the US Coast Guard will review the security arrangements and provide training to the relevant officials.
Following the attack on the Twin Towers in the United States on 2001, the United Nations maritime Agency IMO introduced the International Ship and Port Safety ISPS code for ports around the world. In 2017, the US Coast Guard, with IMO made some recommendation based on ISPS code to ensure the security of the Chattogram Port. How much of this recommendation has been implemented will be examined this time by the delegation.
Major Mohammad Rezaul Haq, Director (security) Chattogram Port said that most of the recommendations of IMO and the US coast guard are being implemented or is underway. The existing master plan of Chittagong Port is also being addressed. Port sources said every day about 15,000 people and 5000 vehicles enter the port protected area.
With the new security system in place the port security department is able to monitor the activities of all of them. “We also created a bio- metric data list of around 100,000 people who are engaged in various activities in the port area. Periodically, the entire port area will be covered by CCTV camera. At present, many areas are covered by CCTV,” Rezaul Haq said.
As an ISPS compliant one Chattogram Port has some obligations regarding security management and monitoring. CPA is ready to ensure that. So, during the visit, discussed weakness in security and ways to overcome those, CCTV cameras are being installed in phases over the last several years. With 300 functional CCTV cameras, some 30 percent of the port areas can be brought under security monitoring. Some 800 more CCTV cameras will also be installed to ensure security management and monitoring.
In addition to the security of the daily activities of the port, the US delegation will also look at the security arrangements for the oil and gas and other installations like CUFL, depots of state owned Padma, Megna, Jamuna dry-docks and 16 off-shore docks as well located in the port area.According to the ISPS code, the access of fewer people in port protected area than it will be safer more. In this point, IMO and the US coastguard recommended, to open the container outside the designated area of the port for delivery of the goods. Due to lack of space, this recommendation could not be implemented.
