All the vessels anchored at different jetties of Chattogram port have been sent to the deep sea as safety measures ahead of approaching cyclone Amphan.

Loading and unloading activities at the port jetties and the lighterage of goods from bigger vessels at outer anchorage have also been suspended.

However, the delivery of imported goods and containers from the port would continue until the weather becomes inclement, said Md Omar Faruk, secretary of Chattogram Port Authority (CPA).

The port authorities have put its own alert no. 3, the second highest security alert as per its Cyclone Disaster Preparedness and Post-Cyclone Rehabilitation Plan, 1992, in line with Bangladesh Meteorological Department hoisting danger signal no. 6 for the port, he added.

Shifting of the vessels started yesterday, reports our Chattogram correspondent.

A total of 19 vessels from the berths were sent to the deep sea by 8:30am while most of the 51 vessels that were at the outer anchorage were also sent to the deep sea at Kutubdia channel, said CPA Deputy Conservator Captain Faridul Alam.

The rest of the vessels would also be shifted by this noon, he said.

Moreover, canal no. 15, canal No. 18 and Guptabend areas in the river Karnaphuli have been cleared by shifting all the lighter vessels to the upstream of Shah Amanat Bridge.

All the CPA crafts including the tug boats have been taken to safe shelters while the 14 gantry cranes and other shore cranes were secured, the CPA DC informed.

Cyclone Amphan was around 890km south west of the port till filing of the report, according to the port sources.