88 ships set sail for deep sea to dodge potential damage from Cyclone Hamoon

The Chittagong Port authority has dispatched 88 ships to the deep sea to safeguard against potential damages from Cyclone Hamoon which is expected to make landfall by Wednesday morning.

Among these vessels are 66 bulk carriers unloading goods at the outer anchorage, all of which were redirected to deep sea starting from 4pm on Tuesday (24 October), the Marine Department of the port authority told The Business Standard.

Following the issuance of danger signal no 7 by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) for the port, an emergency meeting was convened by the CPA, resulting in the issuance of their own alert no 3.

The port authority also undertook 29 measures to mitigate potential losses from the cyclone.

Secretary of Chittagong Port Authority Md Omar Farooq affirmed the activation of the port's four control room services and said, "All loading and unloading operations at the outer anchorage of the port yard have been suspended."

Additionally, all port employees' leaves have been cancelled, and lighter vessels originally stationed along the seashore have been relocated to the bank of the Karnaphuli River.

Since 1992, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has employed a four-tiered alert system for Cyclone-Disaster Preparation and Post-Cyclone Rehabilitation, aligning with warnings issued by the Meteorological Department.

When the Bangladesh Meteorological Department issues Signal No. 3, the Chattogram port activates Alert 1. For Signal No. 4, Alert 2 is activated. Alert 3 is implemented for warning Signal Nos. 5, 6, and 7. In the event of high distress Signals 8, 9, and 10 issued by the Met Office, the port activates the highest warning level, Alert 4.