Cyclone threat, rains: port activities remained unaffected

Despite tropical cyclone in the Arabian Sea followed by heavy rainfall in the port city, port activities remained unaffected as the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has taken precautionary steps to cope with any untoward situation.
KPT officials told Business Recorder on Wednesday that port area and its territorial limits were still under high alert. Earlier, the KPT set up an emergency centre, fully equipped with heavy boats and active pilots.
Headed by Deputy conservator Captain Noman Alvi, the emergency centre, provided required facilities to the exporters, the port authorities said, adding the exporters were advised to stop cement shipment in view of heavy rains.
The urea handling was, however, slowed due to continued rain and cyclone threat to hit coastal areas. They admitted that cargo-handling operations were slightly lower than the normal during the last three days.
Meanwhile, KPT rescue teams salvaged a berg in the deep-sea amid gusty winds and rough weather conditions after receiving SOS signal, adding that the pilots were on standby to handle any incident in the sea. KPT Chairman, who was continuously in touch with the concerned port officials, also visited the both parts of the port, namely East and West Wharves, they added.
They said that during the next 24 to 38 hours, cargo loading and unloading would resume at full strength. They said that 18 vessels remained berthed at dock during cyclone forecast and rains, of which two were sailed out during the last 24 hours, while eight more arrived, which were anchored in the open sea, away from cyclone danger zone.
The KPT officials said the cyclone did not panic the KPT administration as it knew it would hit the Balochistan''s coastal areas, particularly Ormara, Pasni and Makran. Despite this fact, the emergency was declared which was a necessary step in such situations. "It could be highly devastating if it hit the port city, authorities would then evacuate Manora and other adjacent islands with a view to minimising damages and casualties in the coastal areas," they said.
Meanwhile President of All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA) Muhammad Arshad Jamal said that cyclone threat and rain affected 10 percent of the customs activities at ports.