CHATTOGRAM, June 18: Ship handling at the outer anchorage of Chittagong Port has been stopped on Thursday, as the Bay of Bengal is now very rough due to incessant rainfall for the last three days.
Haji Shafique Ahamed, president of the Chittagong Port Lightering Contractors Association, said, "We have stopped lightering from mother vessels at the outer anchorage due to inclement weather from Wednesday night."
The weather has been rough since Monday last, and loading and unloading of goods at the outer anchorage has become risky in such weather.
"Our lighter ships are anchored at the ghats for rough weather. So, there is no lightering at the outer anchorage from last night. We will start loading and unloading of goods when the weather will get normal."
"Mother vessels close their hatch during rough weather in fear of damage of goods in rain. So, loading-unloading of goods is being hampered for sometimes," he added.
Director of Water Transport Cell (WTC) Mahabub Rashid said, "The meetings for berthing on Wednesday and Thursday were suspended. We cannot continue lightering in these two days."
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