CHATTOGRAM, Nov 17: The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has suspended loading and unloading activities of cargos at the seaport following instruction to raise danger signal number 7 for the cyclonic storm "Midhili".
The Bay of Bengal is now very rough due to the devastating storm "Midhili".
The Meteorological Department first hoisted the signal number 6 for Chattogram seaport due to the rough weather.
The deep depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas moved north-northeastwards further and intensified into cyclonic storm "Midhili" over the same area on Friday.
CPA Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail held an emergency meeting at noon where came the decision of keeping loading and unloading activities of cargos stopped.
Leaves of all the employees and officials of the CPA were cancelled and the authorities declared the alert number 3.
CPA secretary Omar Faruk said, "The decision (of halting cargo handling) was taken after a meeting with all the stakeholders of the port."
"The honourable chairman has instructed that ship loading and unloading (the transfer of goods to and from ships to the jetty) be brought to a halt. We are now informing those concerned about the decision," he added.
The port authorities have instructed ships at the jetty to move into open anchorage.
Four ships have already left the harbour since high tide in the morning. However, the other ships remained at the jetty due to the onset of low tide.
The CPA secretary said, "All fishing boats and trawlers on the Bay of Bengal and the deepsea have been advised to remain in shelter until further notice." Small and medium-sized vessels adjacent to the river port have been asked to move upstream.
The vessels have started taking up positions on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, upstream from the Chattogram port and from the Sadarghat to the Shah Amanat Bridge.
"The heavy machinery that needs to be moved will be removed, and those objects that have to be tied down will be tied down," he added.
The CPA secretary said, "We will continue our official work. An 'Alert-3' is issued when the warning signal rises above 5. We are acting accordingly."
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