Bad weather disrupts Chattogram port operations

Loading and unloading of goods at the Chattogram port were disrupted due to inclement weather and relentless rain on Monday.

For the first time in December, when such weather is unusual, operations at the country’s prime port were disrupted due to cyclone Jawad, port officials said.

There was a low, a remnant of the cyclone, over the northwest Bay of Bengal and at the adjoining West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts. 

The meteorological department maintained local warning signal no 3 in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, and Mongla and Payra seaports as heavy wind continued in coastal areas.

This suspended the movement of three-fourths of the total cargo at the Chattogram port’s outer anchorage and jetties, but some container loading and unloading continued amid rains.

Goods conveyance was suspended on Monday due to rains and the rough sea, said Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Mohammad Omar Faruque.

He said cargo handling at the port is usually suspended and ships also sail with caution during bad weather.

Chittagong Port Authority Conservator Captain Faridul Alam said unloading of goods is usually suspended in April-May and November due to rough weather.

“But this has happened in December now. I had not seen this in my last 20 years of service,” he added.

Goods from none of the 37 ships moored at the port’s outer anchorage were unloaded on Monday.

Of the 37 ships, 17 contain cement clinker, 10 general cargo, three food, three fertiliser, one sugar, and one salt. The remaining two are oil tankers.

Port sources said goods are not offloaded onto lighters from mother vessels at the outer anchorage when the sea is rough or during heavy rainfall. Otherwise, there is a risk that bulk cargo will get wet and ruined.

Moreover, lighters cannot get near mother vessels due to large waves when the sea is rough. They are also prone to accidents when there are such waves in the deep sea.

The Patenga meteorological office said the average rainfall in December is 6mm, but 55.5mm was recorded in the port city in the last 24 hours till 3pm on Monday due to cyclone Jawad.

“This is very unusual in December compared to recent years. More rain is likely in the next 24 hours because of the cyclone,” said Sheik Harun or Rashid, forecasting officer at the Patenga met office.

The sea was rough and no lighter went to the outer anchorage to unload goods due to the cyclone’s effects, said the lighter owners’ association Water Transport Cell (WTC).

Its Joint Secretary (operations) Ataul Kabir Ranju said 67 lighters were assigned for unloading goods on Monday from 24 mother vessels, but none could move due to the hostile weather.

Ships have to stay longer at the port if goods are not unloaded on time, causing ship owners and importers to pay extra charges. This results in additional costs for supplying products to the market.