New Delhi: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on Monday said that the Paradip Port Trust(PPP) in Jagatsingpur district in Odisha, has been gearing up to deal with the situation arising out of the impending cyclonic storm Yaas.
As precautionary measures, no inward movement of Ships has been permitted from 2200 hrs of May 23 and as of now, the Port has planned only outward movement of Ships which is expected to be completed by 1200 hrs of May 24.
All operations will be wound up and the Port is being cleared of all personnel by 25th morning while all vessels at Paradip Anchorage have been asked to pick up anchor and move to sea, the Chairman of PPP administration Vinit Kumar said.
He also informed that all Coast Guard Vessels and DCI Dredger XX inside harbour have also been instructed to move out to sea. DCI dredger Aquarius, DCI dredger XVIII, DCI dredger Ganga and both the OSL cutter dredgers in North basin will be secured properly for extreme heavy weather. Other crafts and Tugs which are going to stay inside harbour will be manned round the clock for attending their moorings with main engines ready for operation at any time, he added.
The PPP chairman further said that tankers from Single Point Mooring (SPM) have already been cast off after flushing of pipelines. A Control Room is functioning round the clock at Gate No. 4 from 24th morning, till the cyclone passes and normalcy is restored. A medical team along with Ambulance will be available to meet any medical emergencies.
The PPP officials have also said that all equipment and machineries at under construction areas around port has been getting secured while unloaders at PPL and IFFCO berths are to be securely fastened all loading berths, Harbour mobile Cranes at all berths including PICT berth will also be secured by tomorrow. Loading Arms, Gangway at North Oil Jetty & South Oil Jetty will be secured.
The drains in the locality have been cleared on a war-footing in order to avoid any possible water-logging. Four teams of PPT with chain saws and Pay loader are ready to function round the clock during the cyclone to clear the roads due to possible uprooting of trees.
The PPP administration has activated five Cyclone shelters wherein around 2,000 people from local slums and low lying areas will be accommodated with proper social distancing norms. They will be provided with dry ration, cooked food items, drinking water, face masks and sanitizers. The cyclone shelters will also be equipped with Gensets for uninterrupted electric supply.
In conforming with the Chief Minister’s message, Mr A K Bose, Dy Chairman, PPT has stressed on zero loss of life during the upcoming natural calamity