A fresh spell of turbulent weather is sweeping the Andaman Sea, forcing maritime authorities to clamp down on fishing activity and passenger launches through Thursday. The local Met office in Sri Vijaya Puram confirmed on 15 May that sustained surface winds of 35-45 kmph, gusting to 55 kmph, have been recorded across open waters. The system, fuelled by a pressure gradient in the eastern Bay of Bengal, is expected to retain strength for at least 36 hours, making small craft operations risky.
Fisheries officials immediately circulated an advisory to village panchayats, harbour masters and radio operators, instructing trawlers, fibre-reinforced boats and country craft to remain in port. Owners who had already deployed gear yesterday were told to haul nets and steam back before conditions worsen. Harbourmasters at Junglighat, Phoenix Bay and Hut Bay ordered red flags hoisted at 0700 hrs., signalling total suspension of fishing sorties.
Sea swells are forecast at 1.5-2 metres along the Nicobar channel, a zone where low-lying sandbars can amplify surf and break hulls. The Port Management Board moved quickly to reschedule inter-island cargo sailings, citing passenger safety.
The Andaman administration routinely issues similar warnings before the south-west monsoon, but officials underline that the current advisory is sharper than usual and ends only after the absolute cut-off at midnight on 16 May. Mariners have been reminded that any breach of the order attracts penalties under the Minor Port Harbour Craft rules.
While the alert inconveniences fishers in peak reef-catch season, coastal safety teams point to an unbroken record of zero cyclonic fatalities in the past decade, something they credit to strict early-warning protocols and compliance from boat unions. The district control room continues to monitor satellite imagery every three hours and will downgrade the ban only after recorded gusts dip below 30 kmph for six consecutive readings.
