Second Vessel Collision In Two Days Reported At Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port

A Liberia-flagged bulk carrier collided with an anchored vessel at Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port early on Sunday, the second collision in the port’s outer anchorage in three days.

The bulk carrier Anassa, carrying about 35,350 tonnes of slag and 21 crew members, collided with the Bangladesh-flagged MV Zahab Jahan at the Alpha Anchorage at about 12:35 a.m. on Aug. 16, according to Chittagong Port Authority Secretary and spokesperson Syed Refayet Hamim.

Strong currents were cited as the cause of the latest incident. The two vessels separated safely after the collision and anchored again, while vessel movements at the port continued normally, the port authority said.

“Due to strong currents at the Alpha Anchorage, the entering bulk carrier MV Anassa collided with the forward section of the anchored MV Zahab Jahan,” Hamim said in a statement.

There were no casualties, water did not enter either vessel and no environmental pollution was reported, he said.

The incident came about two days after the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Sea Spike collided with the anchored bulk carrier MV Sunshine at the same port.

That tanker, carrying about 33,000 tonnes of diesel, was involved in a collision at around 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14. The impact caused a crack of about one square metre in the vessel’s engine room, allowing water to enter and causing a temporary power outage.

The tanker’s cargo tanks remained intact and no oil was spilled, according to port authorities.

The Chittagong Port Authority said the collision initially appeared to have occurred after the tanker was unable to maintain control in strong currents, but that the exact circumstances would be established through an investigation.

“All the cargo tanks of the oil tanker were completely intact following the collision,” Hamim told bdnews24.com. “No water entered the cargo tanks and there was no oil leakage.”

Water entered the port-quarter section of the Sea Spike’s engine room through the crack. The vessel’s VHF communication system was kept operational using emergency batteries, while 10 shackles of cable were released from its two anchors to help keep the tanker stable.

Despite the collision, traffic through the port channel remained normal, Hamim said.

Bangladesh Coast Guard Responds

The Bangladesh Coast Guard was alerted to the Sea Spike collision through the Chattogram Port Authority’s Vessel Traffic Management Information System.

A rescue team comprising Coast Guard ship Sonadia, tug Pramatta and a high-speed boat was sent to the scene.

The Coast Guard said Sonadia had been deployed for Operation “Suraksha” and remained alongside the damaged tanker after the initial response. The vessel was kept there to maintain communication and monitor the situation for any further emergency.

The port authority instructed the tanker’s shipping agent, Pride Shipping, to unload the diesel cargo as soon as possible. A salvage company was also instructed to repair the crack and salvage the vessel.

Repairs to the tanker were under way at the site.

The latest collision involving Anassa did not result in comparable damage. The port authority said checks found the bulk carrier’s main engine, steering gear and various pumps operational, while its emergency systems were also functioning.

Earlier Chittagong Port Incident

The two collisions follow an earlier incident involving the Malta-flagged container ship MV CNC Uranus.

The 170-metre vessel became stranded near the mouth of the Karnaphuli River on Aug. 3 while entering Chittagong Port.

Port officials said the vessel suffered a mechanical fault and struck Buoy No. 2 after its steering failed. It subsequently became stuck against a protective wall near the river mouth.

On Aug. 11, the vessel’s master and shipping agent were fined Tk10 million over allegations that they had concealed a fault in its steering gear before entering the port.

The recent incidents have not halted vessel movements through Chittagong Port. Following Sunday’s collision, the port authority said navigation was continuing normally and all 21 crew members aboard the two vessels involved were safe.

Authorities are continuing to assess the circumstances surrounding the collisions. In the case of Sea Spike, officials said an investigation would determine the precise cause, while repairs and salvage work on the damaged tanker remain under way.

References: thefinancialexpress, tbsnews