The Chittagong Port Authority on Tuesday issued its own “Alert No 3” and relocated 22 vessels as severe cyclonic storm Hamoon is brewing over the Bay of Bengal.
The port authorities have taken extensive preparations to protect it from possible damages by Cyclone Hamoon after the met office issued warning signal 7 for Chittagong and Payra ports.
Md Omar Faruq, secretary of Chittagong Port Authority, said that the met office has asked to hoist warning signal 7 and the port authority has issued its own “Alert-3.”
The announcement was made in an emergency meeting held at the port building at 11am, he added.
Measures have been taken to prevent damages to port channels, ships, handling equipment, cargo and containers during storms.
Twenty-two vessels have been ordered to go to the deep sea from the jetty.
“We will further issue our own alert following the instructions of the met office,” he said.
Besides, a special control room under the supervision of a pilot has been opened at the port for 24 hours.
The marine department of the port is sending all small and large vessels from the port channel and jetty to the outer anchorage or the east side of Shah Amanat Bridge with the help of the Bangladesh Navy, Coast Guard, and River Police.
Empty containers are being kept in a secured place. The unloading of goods at the outer anchorage has been halted.
Pre-scheduled delivery operations are underway at jetties, terminals and yards.
Chittagong district administration and Chittagong City Corporation are taking necessary measures including sending the people of the coastal areas to shelters and creating awareness through miking.
