Usual activities at the Chattogram Port resumed on Thursday afternoon as the threat of cyclone Amphan died down early morning the same day.
Omar Faroque, Secretary of Chattogram Port Authority CPA said delivery of goods has already resumedat the port following a 24 hour shut down. Lighter ships have been booked for unloading goods from ships stationed in the deep sea and in the outer seas.
He also said that eight ships were docked at the jetty in the afternoon tide of Thursday.
According to CPA sources, the cyclone did not cause any damage in the port.
"We were to deal with the cyclone,” told Zafar Alam, member (administration), Chattogram Port Authority CPA, “We also issue alert- number 4, which is a warning of the port's own safety.”
He said, “Operational activities of the port were completely shut long before the cyclone hit. All ships were evacuated from the jetties to safer places. The equipment has also been removed to prevent any accidents and damage.”
All the ocean-going mother ships stationed at the outer anchorage were sent to safety in the deep sea. All lighter ships of the internal route were also sent to the upper stream of port-channel near Karnaphuli bridge.
Meanwhile, all kinds of preparations have been taken including the opening of the control room to monitor the overall situation. Ocean-going ships have been instructed to move to deep sea near Saintmartin Island and ships of inland routes to leave jetty areas.
CPA sources said a total of 88 ships are in port to unload imported goods.
When the Meteorological Department issued danger signal No. 3, the port issues a first stage warning or 'Alert-1'. Port Alert-2 is issued for signal number 4. Besides, 'Alert-3' was issued for danger signals 5, 6, and 7. In case of danger signals 8, 9, and 10, the highest alert or 'Alert-4' is also issued in the port. Then all the activities of the port were stopped.
The Chattogram Port came to a standstill during last week of March as a general holiday was declared across the country due to the coronavirus epidemic. Unprecedented entanglement of ships and goods was created. Due to various measures taken by the authorities, the situation in the port, which deals with over 85percent foreign trade of the country, was normal.
