Hylton
DURING FISCAL year 2003/04 the Port Authority of Jamaica, headed by Noel Hylton, earned $3.2 billion, reflecting a 20 per cent increase in revenue in relation to the previous fiscal year.
Meanwhile, surplus generated from operations, that is, after regular recurrent expenditures, was recorded at $1.73 billion, an increase of 11 per cent compared to fiscal year 2002/03.
This is contained in the Ministry of Transport and Works' 2002-2004 Agency Highlights, which was tabled in the House of Representatives last Tuesday.
SECURITY IMPROVED
The Port Authority also reported measurable successes in the improvement of port security during fiscal year 2003/04 with the implementation of 11 x-ray units, five to x-ray break bulk cargo and six to examine containers.
Five of these units arrived in the island in January and were commissioned in March. The units have the capacity to scan 2,000 containers on a weekly basis.
The Closed Circuit (CC) TV Security surveillance system was also installed and is now covering 50 per cent of the container terminal in Kingston. The work is still in progress and completion is expected by mid June.
The system is able to do round-the-clock surveillance of the ports, which includes access to gates, container stations, the port basin, and ships at port and perimeter areas around the ports.
It will also have remote off-site monitoring, back up monitoring sites, Internet interface, and complete and safe storage of all data recorded by all cameras.
An electronic access control and badging system was also established to link the Police's Criminal Records Office for security clearances of all persons going on the port, including truckers, terminal staff and customs officers.
Meanwhile, underwater surveillance cameras are being placed strategically to inspect the hull of ships on arrival in port before leaving the ports. Personnel from the Police Marine Division and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard recently completed an intensive training programme in the care and operation of the cameras.
The cameras are now in operation at the Montego Bay and Ocho Rios ports. Floating barriers were also acquired and are now being used to form a cordon around the cruise vessels in port in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay.
PATROLLING BOATS
Patrolling boats are now being used by the JDF Coast Guard to escort cruise ships in and out of the port, while vessels are in port. The boats remain in order to patrol the waterside. This will supplement patrols by the marine police.
Meanwhile, Port Bustamante utilises the services of highly trained narcotic dogs to sniff selected packages and containers, prior to boarding the vessel. A private security company operates the service and the dogs are kept on a special location on the port.
High mast lights were also installed at Port Bustamante. These lights completely illuminate the port during the nights and complement the CCTV operation for night-time viewing.
