Clothing makers again oppose CTMS launching at Ctg port

FE Report Clothing makers Sunday vehemently opposed launching of the much-talked-about container terminal management system (CTMS) at Chittagong port saying this is not the right time for installation of such a sophisticated system mainly due to lack of adequate infrastructure. The opposition came at a view exchange meeting held at the auditorium of Bangla­desh Garment Manu­facturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in the city. The garment owners again sought two months more time to prepare themselves for the new system making the noble move uncertain. Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Abdul Mannan Howlader, Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Commodore M Anwarul Islam, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) AK Azad, President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) AKM Salim Osman, President of Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) Abdus Salam Murshedy and around one hundred garment makers were present in the meeting. BGMEA President Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin presided over the meeting. The CTMS is purported to provide the quickest possible service to the port users. It is based on a computerised system, aiming at reducing the premier port's turnaround time significantly and ensuring a hassle-free port operation. It has already missed four deadlines mainly due to opposition by the BGMEA, the apex clothing body. The fifth deadline to launch the system was scheduled for September 11 (Sunday). The nearly 4.0 million-euro CTMS project was earlier scheduled to be launched in December last year; later it was rescheduled for February and June while the fourth deadline was in August last, sources at the Chittagong port said. Mr Osman said: "We have been accustomed to the existing system for long. For this, we need more time. Besides the infrastructure and other facilities, uninterrupted power and gas supply is yet to be ensured by the government that causes failure in timely shipment." Mohiuddin urged the port authority to start the system on a trial basis for at least one year whereas the port authority has planned to run the system on a trial basis for three months. "How can we ensure delivery of goods to the port authority before 72 hours of shipment with deplorable road infrastructure?" "We face uncertainty in producing clothing due to shortage of gas and power supply," said AK Azad. "Different types of sudden reasons arise every now and then for which the entrepreneurs fail to hand over goods in time. Does the new system have that type of option to consider the reality?" Abdus Salam Murshedy questioned. He however advocated for a meeting of all stakeholders including those of Roads and Highways Department, railway and the shipping ministry. The shipping secretary said, "We will start the system considering its practical necessity after consulting with all stakeholders." The CPA chairman assured the leaders and stakeholders of hassle-free services with the help of modern software. "The CTMS would reduce the port's turnaround time significantly and ensure a hassle-free port operation," he said. "I can assure you a fast, hassle-free and a fair service if the system is installed," he added. He also assured the stakeholders of not missing any container further "as the tracking system of the new system has the provision of finding out position of any container within a second." The port official said if an equipment operator keeps a container at a place for which it is not meant, then the programme under the CTMS will instantly give a signal. "The system would even enable the entrepreneurs to make all types of payment from their own office which would significantly reduce malpractices," the CPA chairman said. Meanwhile, officials of CPA said they are now fully ready to launch the system. "We are ready to launch the system right now," CTMS Project Director Khairul Mustafa told the FE. Mr Mustafa said exports-laden containers need to be brought to the port yards 24 hours prior to the arrival of ships. "For this reason, we need assistance from the garment makers, especially BGMEA," he added. Mr Mustafa said the present practice is that export containers arrive at the port yards 24 hours after berthing of ships. Even in many cases, the ships wait for hours for a single box of export cargo, leading to rise in the vessel's turnaround time. The initiative to set up CTMS at the country's main seaport was taken in 2005, but the authorities failed to implement the system due to various reasons earlier, sources said. The CTMS will reduce human contact greatly in the port, they added. The CPA is implementing the CTMS project at a cost of Tk 380 million funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB). The US-based Navis, which has provided its CTMS technology to around 70 per cent ports globally, is providing software, while ST Info of Singapore is supplying the devices and other materials for the project. Psion Teklogis of Canada is working on networking, while local software company DataSoft has been engaged in its maintenance for a period of five years. Our Correspondent from Chittagong adds: The shipping secretary said Saturday night that the CTMS will go for trial operation on October 10 without fail and the automated container tracking will fully commission by the end of December this year. He briefed the media after hours-long discussion with BGMEA and BKMEA leaders and other port users in a view exchange meeting at BGMEA conference hall in the port city Saturday. Presided over by BGMEA first vice-president Nasir Uddin Chowdhury the meeting was addressed by the CPA chairman and representatives of different port user bodies. President of Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Khalilur Rahman, former first vice-president of BGMEA SM Abu Tayab, Moinuddin Ahmed Mintu, Lutfi M Ayub, BKMEA vice-president Md Hatem, BGMEA Port and Shipping Committee Dhaka chairman Hasan Abdullah and Chittagong chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed Chowdhury, co-chairman Jashim U Ahmed and Md Mohiuddin addressed the meeting.