A part of the country's premier seaport of Chittagong was inundated by tide waters on Friday noon, which many believe, may affect the goods stored on the ground.
Jetty numbers 01 and 02 and a part of jetty number 05 got deluged, people familiar with the development told the FE over phone.
During high tide, they said, submersion of jetties was a rare picture of the port. However, hours later, water was drained out.
When contacted, officials at the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) said this was a temporary phenomenon as most parts of Chattogram are now submerged.
High tide occurs under the influence of 'amavasya' (new moon), they said, adding that high tide becomes higher than usual and lower tide lower than usual during the period.
CPA secretary Omar Faruk said, "This was just for a few hours and no more water is now at the jetties."
There was some water in some parts of jetty number-05 a few days back. But the problem is over, he told the FE.
On the other hand, a senior official at CPA traffic department said inundation of jetty numbers 01 and 02 will not affect cargoes.
"Actually, no cargo handling takes place at the jetties, so cargo won't be affected," he told the FE.
But officials working at shipping firms said jetties 01 and 02 have some key yards for storing containers and other open items.
Empty containers usually keep doors open and inundation may affect them. Loaded containers may also be affected if they have developed cracks.
Besides, the jetties are used for storing some 'break-bulk' goods under the open sky like imported logs.
There is a big shed of reconditioned cars in the area.
Chattogram port handles more than 92 per cent of the country's total cargoes. It handled over 3.0 million 20-foot equivalent units in fiscal year 2020.
It is the busiest seaport on the coastline of the Bay of Bengal, and it is the second-busiest port in the overall region of countries who depend on the bay.
According to Lloyd's, Chattogram port was ranked 64th among 100 busiest container-handling ports globally in 2019.
Neighbouring India is using the port as a transshipment port to carry goods for its eastern provinces.
jasimhaaroon@yahoo.com
