Chittagong Port officials are falling to trace the whereabouts of some ships anchoring al the outer anchorage of the Port and establishing radio contact

In an official letter late last year, the Member (Operation) of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) disclosed that within a four-month period the radio control room recorded the arrival without prior announcement as required of four such ships at the outer-anchorage of the port.

However, the letter added, pilots and pilot boats of the CPA could not trace the ships after conducting on-the-spot investigations.

Addressed to the Commo ^dore Commanding of Chitta-

gong Naval Base and the Collector of Customs. Chittagong. the letter appealed to them to take "necessary mea sures (if any)"

The letter went on to list the details about the arrival of the four ships last year

On April 13. at 10 pm radio control recorded the arrival of MV "Quota Z." with 225 containers. and at 10:10 pm the arrival of MV "Lee" with 10,000 tons of cotton, at the outer-anchorage of the port.

However, the letter noted, at the Berthing Meeting held April 16 it was decided to send a CPA Pilot to the outeranchorage as no local agents made any announcements about those two ships at the meeting, as per the requlre-

"He (the Pilot) could not find any trace of the above tyo ships after making on-the-spot Investigations at the outer-anchorage." the letter added.

Again on June 11, the letter said, at 4:15 pm radio control recorded the arrival of "MV Martin," a general cargo vessel with a 12,600 tons of cargo, at the outer-anchorage.

As none of the local agents made any announcement about the arrival of the ship till June 14. the CPA pilot boat "Dis-hary-7” was sent to the outeranchorage and “after making on-the-spot investigations could not trace the above ship," the letter noted.

Furthermore, the letter said, on August 2 at 4 am. radio control recorded the arrival of MV "Andaman", a cement carrying vessel with a cargo of 8,7000 tons, at the outer-anchorage.

"On August 3. a CPA pilot, after conducting spot investigations, could not find any trace of MV "Andaman," the letter added.

It went on to note that "such incidents Involving the above four ships had never happened before at the Chittagong Port, although one or two ships tn the past did arrive without prior announcements, but one or the other local agents would make an announcement within a day or two of their arrival and take responsibility of the ship."

The letter added that the CPA was unable to determine whether the ships did in fact arrive at the outer-anchorage or not.

Tn fact, It is not possible "for the Chittagong Port Authority to determine Immediately whether the ships actually arrived at the outeranchorage or outside the Chittagong Port area or not.'

The letter thus went on to request for help from the authorities.

"Under the circumstances, the matter Is being placed before you. requesting you to take necessary measures (if any).'

Observers noted that the alarming developments at the country’s main port could be related to smuggling and urged for a detailed Investigation Into the Incidents