KARACHI: The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has issued a high alert and completed all necessary precautions to protect port operations and cargo from the expected heavy rainfall as monsoon clouds move closer to the city.
According to KPT sources, thorough safety procedures have been put into place to guarantee seamless operations throughout the anticipated weather disruption. Every ship presently berthed at the port has been safely anchored and is being watched closely. In the event of an emergency, tugboats are ready to react quickly, and mooring lines have been strengthened.
In order to further reduce risks, the KPT has assigned a standby pilot who will be on call around-the-clock to safely direct ships into deeper waters in the event that the weather worsens. The goal of this measure is to safeguard port infrastructure and ships.
In order to reduce the risk to marine traffic in the event of severe weather, a KPT alert also noted that a standby pilot will be on call 24/7 to assist in guiding ships into the deep sea.
A KPT representative stated, “We’ve taken all necessary precautions to ensure cargo safety.” Container yards and terminals are receiving extra attention; empty containers will only be stacked two high to lessen the chance of toppling in the event of strong winds and a lot of rain.
In order to ensure a continuous power supply and prevent any disruptions to port operations, instructions have also been issued for maintenance checks and standby generators.
Over the next few days, Karachi is expected to see moderate to heavy monsoon rains, according to the Met Office.
