Heavy rain disrupts cargo unloading at Chittagong Port's Outer Anchorage

While the issue is affecting ships at the Outer Anchorage, cargo handling for the larger ships at the main jetty is proceeding as usual

Heavy rain is disrupting cargo unloading at the Chittagong Port's Outer Anchorage.

The rain has continued to pour down in Chattogram on Wednesday morning.

The port city had recorded its highest rainfall in 42 years on Tuesday.

The rain disrupted the cargo unloading by small cargo vessels at the Outer Anchorage on Tuesday. The weather persisted into Wednesday, interrupting cargo handling.

However, the port authority said the operations of large ships at the port's jetty are normal.

Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim told bdnews24.com, “There is some disruption to the work of loading and unloading goods from ships at Outer Anchorage to cargo vessels.

“This is because some of the products are susceptible to damage from rainwater. Those products are not loaded and unloaded in the rain.

“Activities at the main jetty of the port are normal.”

Asked whether the speed of loading and unloading containers at the port jetty has slowed down due to heavy rain and wind, Refayet said: “There has been no major impact. The importers and exporters of goods have not complained to us yet.”

Meanwhile, the written examination for the post of transport officer of the Chittagong Port Authority, which was to be held from 2pm on Wednesday, has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions.

A press release from the Port said the rescheduled date and time of the examination will be made available to candidates through SMS on their mobile phones in due course.

According to the Patenga Met Office, 237.5mm of rainfall was recorded in the area in the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday.

Previously, the office had recorded 412mm of rainfall in the 24 hours to 3pm on Wednesday, the highest rainfall in a single day in 42 years.