CPA plans mock security exercise once in 3 months

The plan was taken to alert the port personnel on how to combat terrorist attacks on ships and port facilities, officials said.

CPA took the plan to implement the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code at Chittagong port from July 1 to comply with the order of International Maritime Organisation (IMO), they added.

Against the backdrop of Twin Tower incident of September 11, 2001, IMO ordered all the ports of its member countries across the world to implement ISPS code with a view to enhancing security measures for port facilities and ships engaged in maritime trade.

Kamrul Hossain, member (Operation) of the CPA, said, "We have taken a lot of precautions now from security point of view at the port to ensure implementation of ISPS code from July 1. We maintain a restriction with check-lists at all the jetty gates and keep watch over the ocean-going vessels which call here and even check the visitors into the ships".

"We do not allow any transport to stay near the vessels anchored at the jetty berths," Kamrul, also convenor of ISPS code implementation committee of Chittagong port, said. "We are trying to procure some modern logistics including vessel identification equipment and video camera system, to step up surveillance over the port area," he said.

"So in order to keep our people involved in the port operation, alert and aware we have planned to organise mock security exercise at different points of the port just to ascertain their preparedness to combat crimes," he said.

"We want to see through mock exercise how the people concerned react to face in case of any terrorist attack here. If we find any lapse we will do our best to correct and improve the preparedness," Kamrul added.

"During mock show we will create scenario to match possible nature of terrorist acts occurring in the country," he said. "We have organised such a mock exercise at the baggage shed of Chittagong port on June 30 creating an artificial scenario of bomb scare."

"We observed reaction of the people concerned at the baggage shed and would hold such a programme at least once in three months here.”

Sarwar Shahid, Director (Security) at Chittagong port, said, "I acted as the Director General of Shipping at June 30 mock show and observed reaction of the port people during the bomb scare."

"We need more mock shows here to create full awareness about security measures in case of terrorist acts," he said.