Deep depression halts cargo unloading at Chattogram Port's outer anchorage

Cargo unloading activities at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port have come to a near standstill due to a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal.

Operations from mother vessels to lighter ships have been severely disrupted, and lighter vessels transporting goods to various inland destinations are also halted.

According to the Inland Vessel Owners' Association of Chattogram (IVOAC) sources, ship crew members, and officials of the Chattogram Port Authority, the rough sea conditions caused by the depression have forced most lighter vessels scheduled for unloading to seek safe shelter.

Parvez Ahmed, vice president of IVOAC, told The Business Standard that unloading activities at the outer anchorage began slowing down yesterday night and nearly ceased this morning (29 May).

"Only a few lighter vessels with higher capacity and the ability to navigate adverse weather are currently continuing operations," he added.

Typically, the Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell allocates 50 to 60 lighter ships daily for cargo unloading. In total, around 100 lighter vessels, including those owned by industrial stakeholders, are involved in the process.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official from the Marine Department of the Chattogram Port Authority said, "Due to the turbulent sea, excessive rolling is occurring, making it risky to continue unloading. As a result, operations have been significantly curtailed."

As of yesterday, port data shows that 48 mother vessels — including those carrying general cargo, cement clinker, food grains, sugar, and oil — were engaged in unloading activities at the outer anchorage. Additionally, 45 other vessels, including those carrying containers and bulk cargo, were also anchored, bringing the total to 93 ships.

Meanwhile, Nabi Alam, joint secretary of the Water Transport Workers' Federation, was stranded in the Hatia area of Noakhali around 10pm yesterday while returning to Chattogram after delivering soybean seeds to Dhaka.

He said, "The conditions at sea are too dangerous for sailing. There's no way to resume port operations or vessel movement under the current circumstances. At least 200 lighter ships en route to Chattogram from Dhaka and other destinations are now stranded near Hatia."

The Meteorological Department has advised Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla, and Payra ports to hoist local cautionary signal number three as the deep depression continues to affect the coastal areas.