Cargo unloading operations at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port have come to a complete halt as persistent rainfall, rough seas and adverse weather conditions continue to batter the coast, leaving 43 mother vessels stranded without cargo handling activities.

Industry insiders said the suspension began on the night of 6 July after deteriorating weather conditions made it unsafe for lighter vessels to operate between the anchored mother vessels and the shore.

Bangladesh Ship Handling and Berth Operators Association (BSBOA) Chairman Sarwar Hossain said heavy swells in the Bay of Bengal, coupled with Local Warning Signal No. 3, have made lighterage operations impossible.

He told " Daily Capital Views   “The sea remains extremely rough, preventing lighter vessels from approaching the mother ships. As a result, cargo unloading at the outer anchorage has remained completely suspended since Sunday night.”

No loading or unloading of food‑grain vessels was possible on Monday or Tuesday. Overall operations at the outer anchorage have effectively come to a halt, though limited handling of stone and a few other bulk commodities continued in some cases.

According to the BSBOA, between 80 and 120 lighter vessels normally transport cargo daily from mother vessels anchored offshore to destinations across the country. The ongoing disruption has brought that supply chain to a standstill, raising concerns over possible delays in the movement of imported commodities.

Heavy rainfall has also affected the handling of bulk cargo at the port’s jetties. Although container operations are continuing on a limited scale, unloading of open or break-bulk cargo has been significantly disrupted.

Port-related sources said full-scale cargo handling at the outer anchorage is unlikely to resume until weather conditions improve and sea conditions become safe for lighter vessels.

The disruption is significant because the outer anchorage plays a crucial role in Bangladesh’s import logistics.

According to Chattogram Port data, more than 70 per cent of imported cargo is unloaded at the outer anchorage before being transported ashore by lighter vessels. The remaining 30 per cent, mainly container cargo and some bulk shipments, is handled directly at the port’s main jetties.

While container loading and unloading at the main jetties are continuing normally, operations involving open cargo have also been hampered by the continuous rain.

Port statistics as of 6 July show that 63 workable vessels were present at the port. Among them, 11 vessels were berthed at the main jetties, 50 were anchored at the outer anchorage and two were at other berths. In addition, five container vessels were waiting at the outer anchorage for berthing at the main jetties.

Repeated attempts to contact Chattogram Port spokesperson and Secretary Syed Refaet Hamim for an official comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls.