US coast guard team visits Ctg port
OUR CORRESPONDENT | Tuesday, 2 August 2022
CHATTOGRAM, Aug 01: A team of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) is visiting the Chittagong Port to scrutinise the compliance of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code in the prime sea port and related establishments.
The four-member team started their three-day visit on Monday.
On the first day, the team visited jetties and establishments of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and observed the security system, sources said.
The team is scheduled to visit the port-related establishments today (Tuesday) and hold meetings with officials concerned on Wednesday - the concluding day.
The CPA carried out a fire drill at the port jetty recently - before the ISPS team's visit, sources said.
Besides, CPA held a meeting with its stakeholders on June 13 last and issued instructions on strict adherence to domestic and international policies on transportation and storing of dangerous cargoes.
The CPA also asked importers to get their hazardous chemicals released from the port within 72 hours of arrival - one of the measures the authorities have taken to ensure safe handling of dangerous goods in order to prevent any kind of accident.
It also made a set of 17 recommendations, including building separate sheds equipped with advanced technology for hazardous goods and bringing all the risky chemical and dangerous cargo yards under 24-hour CCTV surveillance.
Secretary of CPA Omar Faruk said, "It is the routine visit of USCG to scrutinise the compliance of the ISPS code here in the port and related establishments."
In consultation with the United States, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is implementing the ISPS code to prevent any terrorist activity from taking place under the guise of transporting goods by sea.
Since 2004, the IMO has made it mandatory to implement the ISPS code for security in ports around the world.
Chittagong Port also implemented compliance with the ISPS code. Earlier, the ISPS team visited Chittagong port six times. The last visit took place in August 2019.
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