Heavy rains disrupt cargo handling at Chattogram port

Heavy rains have disrupted cargo handling at the outer anchorage of Chattogram port and slowed container delivery from the port yard, as waterlogging hampered customs inspections and cargo release.

Operations at the port's main jetties remained functional, but persistent rainfall over the past two days reduced the pace of container handling, while cargo transfers between ocean-going vessels and lighter vessels at the outer anchorage were also affected.

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According to port officials, physical examination of import containers and unloading of cargo onto trucks had remained suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday due to waterlogging in several container yards.

However, cargo stored in port sheds and full container load (FCL) consignments continued to be released.

On Wednesday afternoon, accumulated rainwater had temporarily disrupted the release of containerised cargo from the yards, although operations gradually resumed as the water receded.

The disruption came as Chattogram continued to experience heavy rainfall, a day after recording its highest single-day rainfall in 42 years on Tuesday.

Chittagong Port Authority’s Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim told The Daily Star that there was no risk of water entering the port jetties, but excessive rainfall had caused temporary waterlogging in container yards over the last two days.

"Once the rain eased, the water drained away, and operations returned to normal," he said.

He said cargo handling between ocean-going vessels and lighter vessels at the outer anchorage was being affected because many commodities cannot be loaded or unloaded during heavy rain due to the risk of damage.

"The main jetty operations remain normal, although heavy rain and strong winds have slowed container handling," he added.

Sharif Mohammad Al Amin, assistant commissioner of Customs House, Chattogram, said customs assessment and clearance of FCL cargo remained normal, although overall cargo release had slowed because physical inspections could not be carried out amid heavy rainfall and waterlogging.

He said the situation began improving on Thursday morning as rainfall eased, allowing operations to recover compared with the previous two days.