Turkish flag carrier hits lighter ship in Chittagong
Turkish flag carrier vessel Kiran Asya hit a lighter vessel at the Bay of Bengal near Chor Para sea beach area in Chittagong creating a big hole in its lower part. The accident occurred on 18 August.
Water entered the lighter vessel Shah Amanat-1 but the authorities achieved to save the vessel before it sinks. There were 30 crew members in the vessel who were rescued safely.
The 70-meter long lighter ship of 5,535 tonnes capacity is now undergoing necessary repairing after unloading stone chips.
Captain Faridul Alam, deputy conservator, Chittagong Port Authority, said after being hit by the mother vessel, the lighter vessel was in ballast condition. The vessel was grounded on Thursday afternoon due to strong winds.
“We have asked the owner representatives’ of the two vessels to settle the issue amicably,” Alam told the Container News.
Reefer containers fall at Mongla port yard
Meantime, due to rough weather, loading and unloading processes of cargo in Mongla seaport are facing severe disruption.
On Thursday (18 August) night, 30 to 35 reefer containers of Maersk and Ocean Network Express (ONE) fell from stacks at the Mongla port yard due to severe storm.
Ruhul Amin, an official at the stevedores company Khulna Traders, said the three high container stacks could not withstand the severe wind of the storm, and as a result, they fell one on another.
However, the containers did not incur any damage, according to Ruhul Amin.
“What I am hearing is that empty containers stacked….But not much of an impact as of now. No damage to customers’ cargo or any injuries,” said a Maersk spokesperson.
Two fishermen die
On Friday (19 August) morning, a fishing trawler sank in Hatia sub-district under Noakhali district after it was hit by a storm. Two fishermen died, two remain missing and 12 were rescued alive.
Sharar Nayel
Asia Correspondent
