Cargo delivery from port yards resumes partially

Cargo delivery from the yards at the Chattogram port resumed partially yesterday morning and continued on a limited scale as the impact of cyclone Remal began to wane.
However, the 19 vessels that were sent out to sea from the main and specialised jetties on Sunday morning to avert any damage during the cyclone could not be brought back by the afternoon due to the rough seas and inclement weather.
As such, the loading and unloading of cargoes and containers at the main jetty remained suspended for the second consecutive day.
Additionally, 49 vessels that were shifted out to sea from the outer anchorage on Sunday had returned by yesterday afternoon. But those vessels could not be unloaded due to inclement weather.
CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk told The Daily Star that the full team of the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) pilots waited at ghat number 15 at Patenga near the Karnaphuli estuary for over four hours since 10:00am as they attempted to bring back the 19 vessels.
As the impact of the cyclone waned yesterday morning, the met office advised lowering the danger signal from No 9 to No 3. The CPA also lowered its security alert No 4, its highest alert, and instead issued alert No 1 at 11:00am.
Accordingly, the CPA Marine Department planned to bring back 19 vessels to the jetty by the morning tide. But they failed to cross the sea and get on board.
A senior official of the CPA Marine Department said 13 CPA pilots on three pilot boats attempted to cross the bay to reach the vessels but failed due to heavy swelling at sea, incessant showers and gusty winds.
Several pilots fell sick during the attempts, he said, adding that he had seldom witnessed such swelling in the bay.
Considering the job would be very risky, they cancelled the plan after keeping the pilots on standby till afternoon, he informed.
At 5:30pm, Faruk told The Daily Star that they suspended attempts to board pilots on the 19 vessels as the high tide had receded in the afternoon, which would make navigating the port channels at night difficult.
Once the sea becomes calmer, they will take steps to bring the vessels back to the jetties, he said.