Paradip Port Trust (PPT) has stopped all cargo handling operations and is not allowing any vessel movement. “All vessels have been ordered to leave the port”, S S Mishra, Chairman , PPT, told Business Line over phone from Paradip, explaining the measures being taken to face the “Phailin”, the cyclonic storm due to hit the port on Saturday. “The vessels due to arrive at the port too have been told not to come”.
There were about dozen ships in the berths as well as at the anchorage. The berths and the anchorage have been vacated. All truck movement and rail movement to and from the port too have been suspended. The cranes have been lowered and fastened.
“We’ve still 24 hours to go but we are not taking any chances”, the Chairman said.” The Indian Met Department has flashed “Red Signal Seven”.
Paradip port has 14 berths, handling mainly bulk cargoes like coal, iron ore, and crude and petroleum products, among other items. The daily average throughput is about 1.9 lakh tons. “Our output will suffer but we’re helpless”, he observed.
PPT has opened a control room to monitor the situation. Also several cyclone centres have been opened for sheltering people in the low-lying and vulnerable areas. Each centre is being stacked with food, drinking water, basic medicines and other relief materials.