Heavy rains slow cargo handling at Ctg port

Heavy rainfall continued to disrupt cargo handling at Chattogram port for a third consecutive day yesterday, slowing customs inspections, cargo deliveries and unloading operations at the outer anchorage.

While operations at the port’s main jetties remained normal, cargo handling at the outer anchorage and the release of containerised cargo from port yards slowed because of persistent rain and temporary waterlogging.

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The disruption also hit business at Chaktai-Khatungonj, one of Bangladesh’s largest wholesale markets for essential commodities, where traders said activity had fallen by 60 to 70 percent over the past three days as buyers stayed away and transport remained difficult.

Although intermittent rain continued from dawn yesterday, its intensity eased significantly compared with the previous two days.

According to the Chattogram Meteorological Office, 271.6 mm of rainfall was recorded in the 24 hours to 9:00am on Thursday.

At Chattogram port, officials said container operations continued, but heavy rain disrupted the unloading of bulk cargo vulnerable to water damage.

Bulk commodities such as food grains and other moisture-sensitive cargo could not be discharged during heavy showers, they said. However, weather-resistant cargoes, including stone and scrap, continued to be unloaded.

“Physical examination of import consignments has remained largely suspended over the past two days because of heavy rain and waterlogging in the container yards, slowing overall cargo release,” said Sharif Mohammad Al Amin, assistant commissioner of Customs House, Chattogram.

“Assessment and clearance of full container load (FCL) consignments have continued as usual. However, cargo release has slowed because physical inspections could not be carried out consistently due to the weather,” he said.

Inspection activities resumed on Thursday morning after the rainfall eased, he added, although intermittent showers continued to disrupt the process, preventing operations from returning to normal.

Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim said there was no risk of water entering the port’s main jetties, although temporary waterlogging had affected some container yards over the past two days.

“Operations at the jetties are normal, but heavy rain and strong winds have slowed container handling and cargo release from port yards. Cargo transfers between mother vessels and lighter vessels at the outer anchorage have also been affected because many commodities cannot be handled during rainfall without risking damage,” he said.

According to Chittagong Port Authority data, 21 container vessels handled cargo at the jetties during the 24 hours to 8:00am on Thursday, while another 26 vessels were waiting at the outer anchorage to discharge imported cargo.

The waiting vessels were carrying wheat, raw sugar, lentils, soybean oil, fertiliser, coal, limestone and industrial raw materials, including cement clinker, slag and steel scrap.

Port data also showed a noticeable decline in container movement. A total of 2,927 containers entered and left the port on Monday, but the figure fell to around 2,100 by Thursday, reflecting the impact of adverse weather.

According to the Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association, the century-old trading hub, home to around 4,000 businesses and more than 5,000 warehouses, has seen trade disrupted by three consecutive days of rain.

Anamul Islam, an executive member of the Chaktai-Khatunganj Warehouses Samity, told The Daily Star: “Our sales have dropped by at least 60 to 70 percent because buyers are not coming to the market due to the rain.”

“Goods could not be transported smoothly to other parts of the country because many parts of the city remained waterlogged,” he said.

“Although rainwater did not enter our shops, transporting goods has become difficult and costly. Most of our products are handled in bags or in the open, creating a high risk of damage during rainfall,” he added.