Sea ports evacuate personnel, stop yard operations as Tauktae intensifies into Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm

In light of the cyclone Tauktae, two of the busiest ports on the west cost of India - Nhava Sheva and Mundra have suspended all yard operations and unberthed all ships till weather conditions improve.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), which oversees the Nhava Sheva port has suspended all yard operations and evacuated all personnel from the dockyard on Sunday evening after suspending berthing from late Saturday night. Transporters were also asked to evacuate their trailers and equipment.

All the terminal equipment has been secured to prevent damage from high-speed winds as per the weather contingency plan.


At the Mundra port in Gujarat, operator Adani Ports and Logistics has suspended berthing from Sunday afternoon and unberthed all vessels at berth by Monday morning. Visitors' entry has been restricted to the port.

The IMD said that the cyclone Tauktae on Monday morning intensified from ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’ to ‘Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm’ over east-central Arabian Sea and issued a red alert for Gujarat and Diu coasts.

The storm is expected to move north-westwards and reach Gujarat coast on Monday evening and cross between Porbandar & Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) during the night between 8 and 11 pm.

Shipping companies expect the ports to remain closed until Tuesday.

Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal on Monday took stock of the situation in a meeting with the Minister of Ports Shipping & Waterways Mansukh Mandaviya, officials from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and representatives from the state governments of Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Dr M Mohapatra, DG, IMD made a presentation on the cyclone track and intensity, the regions that may experience heavy rains, winds and storm surge, likely damage and measures to mitigate damage, as per a statement from industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).