Chattogram Bureau :
The timely steps of the Chattogram port authority have brightened the image of the country as Chattogram port is now 100% robbery free. Ship fare and insurance premiums have also declined due to security measures.Lastly on 12 December 2020, a group of 10 armed men boarded the Bridgewater , a supply vessel carrying the flag of Singapore, in the western part of Kutubdia , in Bay , and robbed it of two drums of hydraulic oil and hose pipes.
Although the incident took place outside the boundary of the Chattogram port, the goods were recovered with the help of the Coast Guard using the Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) of the port and the robbers were handed over to police.
According to the report of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), this was the last robbery in Chattogram port.
Afterwards, a new era began for the port, putting to rest the previous years of fear, owing much to improved coordination. But a lot of work was put in to reach this particular stage.Back in 2000, pirates had killed five fishermen after looting their boat. In the same year, an Indonesian officer was shot on a ship of the Shell Oil Company. It spurred the formation of a 10-member task force comprising officials from various government agencies and shipping representatives to review security arrangements.Frequent robberies had a negative impact on the image of the Chattogram port as many foreign ships refused to arrive there citing security concerns.However, the authorities have been successful in eradicating such robberies within the port’s proximity.Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) took some steps, including increasing Coast Guard patrols, introducing vessel traffic management system (VTMS), controlling unauthorised ships entering the outer anchorage, sending watchmen on ships and installing 1,250 CCTV cameras in the port yard.They also expanded their patrolling from seven nautical miles to 65.
Initiatives that changed the picture:
In 2000, the Coast Guard of Chattogram port received two patrol boats to prevent robbery. The Coast Guard increased surveillance in the port channel with these patrol vessels. In 2013, the authorities purchased the VTMS from Sweden at a cost of Tk46 crore which brought a 10 nautical mile area of the port under video monitoring.For this, 46 high-powered infrared video cameras were installed at various places including Patenga, Bandar Bhaban, Sadarghat, Ruby Gate, Anwara and around the entire channel of the Chattogram port and its surroundings.The authorities have also taken the initiative to install 100 more infrared cameras in Kutubdia, Matarbari and Sitakunda areas at a cost of Tk50 crore. The project will start in the next six months.In addition, the CPA has installed 1,250 CCTV cameras to secure the port, including the jetty, port yard and handover yard.
Rear Admiral M Shahjahan, chairman of the CPA, told The New Nation , “VTMS was introduced in 2013. The Navy and Coast Guard are working to prevent piracy. As a result, the image of Chattogram port has improved in the world. We will take all necessary measures to keep the port 100% free from piracy.”
