Cargo unloading at Ctg Port's outer anchorage suspended for three days amid rough seas

Unloading of cargos at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port has remained suspended for the past three days due to persistent heavy rainfall and rough sea conditions under local cautionary signal number 3.

As a result, lighter vessels have been unable to collect cargo from mother vessels anchored at sea and transport it through the country's waterways. The disruption has significantly affected the port's outer anchorage operations, halting the movement of goods to various inland destinations.

Nabi Alam, Joint Secretary of the Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation, told The Business Standard, "For the past three days, neither unloading at the outer anchorage nor the movement of lighter vessels has been possible. The sea is extremely rough, and even goods that can typically be unloaded during light rain or low tide are now stuck due to the suspension of lighter vessel movement."

He added that most lighter vessels are currently anchored at Patenga sea beach or in the designated zones of the Karnaphuli River. "Only 11 oil tankers managed to sail from the outer anchorage on Tuesday. No other lighter ships carrying cargo have dared to move due to the unusually strong waves. I haven't seen waves this fierce in the past four months."

According to Chattogram Port Authority data, 97 vessels—including container ships, bulk carriers, and oil tankers—were at the outer anchorage as of July 8. Of these, 18 are container ships waiting to berth at the port's jetty. Other vessels include 33 general cargo ships, 8 food grain carriers, 3 fertilizer ships, 24 carrying cement clinker, 2 sugar vessels, and 9 oil tankers.

Chattogram Port Authority Secretary Md Omar Faruk confirmed the suspension of unloading activities at the outer anchorage, especially for commodities like rice, pulses, wheat, and sugar. "However, container handling at the port's main jetties is continuing as usual," he said.

GM Khan, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (BWTCC), which oversees lighter vessel operations, echoed the concerns. He said, "Unloading at the outer anchorage is fully suspended due to the unfavorable weather. Operations will resume once sea conditions improve."

The disruption comes amid a spell of active southwest monsoon, which has brought heavy rain to Chattogram and three other divisions. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast continued rainfall over the next 24 hours.

Abdur Rahman, Assistant Meteorologist at the Patenga Weather Office, reported 85 millimeters of rainfall in Chattogram in the 24 hours ending 9:00 am Wednesday. "The rain is ongoing, and warning signal number 3 remains in effect for the port," he added.