CPA moves again to set up video surveillance at port

The Chittagong Port Authority invited bidders to participate in a tender to install a video surveillance system at the port to track vessel movements.
Bidders will have to submit bid documents on Thursday, said Commodore Nizamuddin Ahmed, chairman of CPA.
The Vessel Traffic Management Information System provides security surveillance for vessels in the port's territory, including an area of around 20 nautical miles from the third Karnaphuli Bridge on the river Karnaphuli toward the Bay, Ahmed said.
The system works in a combination of radars and cameras. The project is estimated to cost Tk 40 crore.
At present, the CPA monitors the vessel movements with the help of radio messages controlled by a radio control room at the CPA building.
Due to lack of video messages, accidents cannot be averted, said Captain Faridul Alam, project director for the VTMIS and CPA harbour master.
Once the VTMIS is implemented, video messages and digital information of the vessels and the port territory could be found from microwave link with the help of four powerful radars, eight infrared day-night cameras and other equipment to be installed at towers.
The towers would be set up at different points on the bank of the Karnaphuli and at Patenga.
Terming the system 'very important' for the port, the CPA chairman expressed his eagerness to expedite the procedures and complete the project soon.
Once the system is implemented, the whole port territory could be visually monitored from a single room, Ahmed said, adding that piracy or thefts could also be easily stopped through the system.
Port officials said the tender for the project was first floated on May 18, 2010, but the shipping ministry put freezes on the tender two months later due to some allegations.