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The Chattogram Port is now close to becoming a fully automated one after the introduction of the terminal operating system (TOS), an advanced system that is now allowing the port authority to control the movement and anchor of freighters in and around the seaport electronically.
Aiming to launch full-fledged automatic cargo documentation and delivery system, the TOS was launched a few months ago on a trial basis, but the customs segment has not yet been integrated with this automated system.
Sources at the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) said the bill of lading from the Chattogram Customs House is yet to be included in the system.
Except for the customs service, all sorts of other necessary information regarding the operation of cargo ships at the port were already integrated with the system, creating hopes for ensuring a smooth port operation, they added.
All of our operational activities have now become automated and the port users are also getting used to the advanced system, said CPA Secretary Omar Faruk.
He commented on this early this month after the launch of the electronic delivery orders (EDO), another system required for the complete automation move.
The EDO has introduced on a trial basis a few months ago, but still, in special cases, manual delivery orders were also being granted if those needed the manual options, he said.
According to CPA sources, the installation of TOS, a widely used port management system globally, was completed last month.
The port’s operational activities would now be done through TOS, an advanced version of the container terminal management system (CTMS), which CPA continued since 2011 for container operation management.
The CTMS had allowed the container terminal management only, but the TOS would enable the automation of the entire shipment documentation of containers and bulk cargos, CPA officials said.
The terminal operating system would provide a set of computerised systems to manage cargo, machines, and labour services to enable a seamless port operation facility.
Freight Forwarders Association Vice President Khairul Alam Sujan said the latest automation move would let the country’s main seaport avail of the international standard as the system would not allow any fraudulence regarding the port and container management system.
The system is likely to reduce the length of working days for the clearance of goods, while the relevant stakeholders would not need additional time and manpower, he said.
From now on, the clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents as well as the businesses could pursue clearing their goods from anywhere and anytime, Sujan added.
So far, 2094 C&F agents, 477 freight forwarders and 70 shipping agents joined the TOS, who are mainly involved in the import-export operations through the seaport, CPA sources said.
These stakeholders receive at least 2,000-2,500 EDOs per day, through which they avail of the deliveries of goods from the port. After the trial introduction of TOS, a total of 3,17,236 EDOs were issued till October.
According to port sources, the bill of lading from customs is not yet automatically added to the TOS but it would also be integrated with the system gradually.
Currently, Chattogram Port handles at least 97 per cent of the country’s export-import cargos. The port’s present capacity is around 4 million twenty equivalent units (TEUs). The TOS would raise the capacity to 5 million TEUs, sources said.
