Unfavourable weather conditions have severely impacted cargo unloading activities at the Chittagong Port for the past three days. Heavy rains and turbulent seas have prevented smaller vessels from approaching the outer anchorage to unload containers, leading to significant delays.
Since Monday, the port has witnessed a virtual halt in unloading operations at the outer anchorage, according to officials from the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and ship handlers. Over 50 large vessels, including those carrying essential imports such as wheat, raw sugar, lentils, soybean oil, fertilizer, coal, limestone, cement clinker, slag, and steel scraps, remain stranded at the anchorage awaiting calmer seas.
The Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (BWTCC), a private organisation managing lighter vessels, reported that they have allocated 145 lighter vessels over the last three days to unload cargo from at least 25 larger vessels. However, none of these lighter vessels could depart due to heavy rolling and continuous rainfall, rendering cargo unloading impossible and raising concerns over potential goods damage.
Since Saturday, maritime authorities have issued cautionary signals across four ports, including Chittagong, urging vessels to exercise caution amid the ongoing adverse weather. The Bangladesh Met Office recorded 160.2mm of rainfall in and around Chittagong city in the 24 hours ending at 3:00 pm on Tuesday.
The disruption extends beyond the outer anchorage. While activities at the main jetties, including container handling and bulk cargo operations, continue, the pace of unloading and delivery has slowed considerably, according to CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk.
Meanwhile, at least 100 lighter vessels loaded with imported goods remain stranded in the Karnaphuli River, unable to depart due to the persistent bad weather, further compounding the logistical challenges at the port.
