Chittagong Port Authorities have taken extensive measures, including issuing their internal danger signal 3, to mitigate potential damage to the port in anticipation of the potential impact of Cyclone Hamoon.
The cyclone is expected to hit Chittagong on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, the unloading of goods at the outer anchorage has come to a halt as the process of relocating ships from the port jetty to the deep sea is underway.
On Tuesday morning, the port authority convened an emergency meeting with port officials in the port building.
Chittagong Port's Secretary, Omar Faruk, said: "We held a morning meeting with all stakeholders. Chittagong Port Authority has implemented measures to safeguard the port's channel, vessels, handling equipment, cargo, and containers from cyclones and high tides. Currently, the port has activated its internal warning signal."
He mentioned that there were 22 ships at the port jetty, all of which have been directed to move to safer waters in the deep sea. Some ships have already departed, while others are awaiting favourable tides before they depart.
The port's Marine Department, with assistance from the Navy, Coast Guard, and Naval Police, is overseeing the relocation of small and large vessels from the port channel and jetty to the outer anchorage or the east side of the Shah Amanat Bridge.
The port's own small vessels are securely docked at the jetty. All container and cargo handling equipment, including the Key Gantry Crane and Rubber Tire Gantry Crane, are being systematically prepared for the impending weather.
Additionally, the clearance of goods in the outer anchorage has been temporarily halted, while pre-scheduled delivery operations continue at jetties, terminals, and yards. A 24-hour special control room is now operational under the guidance of the pilot.
Meanwhile, the Meteorology Department issued Special Notice No 10 on Tuesday, providing detailed information about the course of Cyclone Hamoon. According to the Storm Warning Centre's notification, Cyclone Hamoon is currently heading northeastward over the northwest Bay of Bengal.
In light of the approaching cyclone, Payra and Chittagong seaports have been instructed to lower the local warning signal to number four and raise the danger signal to number seven.
The Patenga Meteorological Department in Chittagong has forecasted that Cyclone Hamoon, presently located in the northwest Bay of Bengal, may make landfall along the Barisal-Chittagong coast early on the morning of Wednesday.
Patenga Meteorological Department's Meteorologist Aftab Ahmed said: “In line with the latest Meteorological Department bulletin issued at 1pm, Hamoon, having intensified from a low-pressure system into a cyclone, is likely to gain strength and strike the Barisal-Chittagong coast Wednesday morning. During this period, tides could rise three to four feet higher than normal.”
The meteorologist said: “Chittagong is expected to experience heavy rainfall in the evening due to Cyclone Hamoon. On Tuesday, from 6am to 12pm, the Patenga Meteorological Department recorded nine millimetres of rain. As of now, Cyclone Hamoon is situated 330 km southwest of Chittagong port, 230 km southwest of Mongla port, 215 km southwest of Payra port, and 295 km west and southwest of Cox's Bazar.”