Chittagong Port, which is Bangladesh’s premier sea port and handles bulk of imports and exports including apparel shipments, was yet to completely implement the security measures specified by the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code.
Media reports maintained this adding as per the ISPS and IMDG codes, delivery of goods has to be conducted at a separate place other than the main port area even if container scanners have to be installed at all the gates of the port, and dangerous products kept in separate containers with a label of product details while adding the Chittagong Port was still conducting container delivery service from the main port,with scanners being installed at six out of its 12 gates.
The reports further added that a two-member United States Coast Guard (USCG) delegation visited the port to take stock of the safety measures.
It may mentioned here that close on the heels of the devastating fire incident at a container depot in Sitakunda, Chittagong, there is an increased focus on safety measures at the ports.
