Ctg port operations expected to resume today

The Chittagong port is expected to resume operations today following a two-day suspension of all activities for Cyclone Mocha. 

"…we hope that the port operations will resume from Monday morning (today)," Omar Faruk, the port secretary, said yesterday upon inquiry.

"We hope that the ships will start arriving during the tide on Monday afternoon. From then on, the port activities will be operational. Import-export trade will begin," he said.

"So far I have not received any news of any accident or shipwreck in the waters under the port's jurisdiction," he added.

However, the port's "Alert-4" will not be called off until the meteorological department withdraws its warning, said Faruk.

The port authority issued the alert, the second highest as per its Cyclone Disaster Preparedness and Post-Cyclone Rehabilitation Plan, on Friday night to avoid possible risks.

It was in line with the meteorological department's "Great Danger Signal No. 8" issued for the maritime ports.

As a result, goods unloading at the port's jetties, internal management activities, product delivery, transfer of goods from large ships to small ships at the outer anchorage and movement of goods inside the port were suspended.

All vessels at the jetties were sent out to sea at high tide on Saturday while cargo ships in the outer anchorage were barred from entering.

At the same time, all equipment used for lifting and handling products at jetties were secured and kept away at a safe distance.