3 Ships Damaged In Two Separate Collisions At Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port

Three vessels were damaged in two separate collisions near Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port on September 29.

The first collision happened at about 8:30 a.m. at Kutubdia anchorage. It involved Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV APJ Shirin and Liberia-flagged MV HG Sydney.

A second collision took place around 11:30 a.m. at the Alpha Anchorage area of Chittagong Port’s outer anchorage.

APJ Shirin had arrived from Indonesia about a week earlier with around 55,000 tonnes of coal. The ship was anchored at Kutubdia, with a lighter vessel alongside it to take the coal.

HG Sydney was carrying about 51,000 tonnes of soybeans from Brazil. It was moving towards the anchorage after weighing anchor when it came close to APJ Shirin.

According to CPA officials and shipping agents, HG Sydney hit the side of APJ Shirin. A lighter vessel was between the two bulk carriers at the time.

Belayet Hossain, director of Litmond Shipping, the local agent for HG Sydney, said the lighter was empty. He said it moved away immediately after the impact, so it did not remain trapped between the two bulk carriers.

Hossain said HG Sydney suffered slight damage to its port hull.

CPA Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim said both foreign vessels were in safe positions after the incident. He also said there were no casualties or pollution.

The CPA’s Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) recorded the incident as minor contact between HG Sydney and APJ Shirin while HG Sydney was manoeuvring towards the Kutubdia Alpha Anchorage.

Both ships reported the incident to VTMIS and later secured their positions.

An inspection was started to check possible damage to the port side of HG Sydney. The local representatives of the vessels were also informed.

The owner of lighter vessel MV Sani-5 gave a different account of the incident.

In a letter to Litmond Shipping, owner Jamal Hossain alleged that HG Sydney hit the front section of Sani-5 with considerable force. He said the collision damaged the lighter’s superstructure from the lower section up to the upper deck.

Sani-5 was carrying coal belonging to QNS Shipping Logistics. The vessel was due to carry the coal from Kutubdia to Payra, according to the letter.

Hossain said Sani-5 had recently been docked and was making its first trip after loading when the collision happened.

Hossain Enterprise asked for a joint survey to assess the damage. It also asked for action on compensation and described the vessel as having suffered “total damage”.

Copies of the letter were sent to QNS Shipping Logistics and other concerned parties.

The second collision happened around 11:30 a.m. at the Alpha Anchorage area of Chittagong Port’s outer anchorage.

CPA officials said Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier MV Akij Wave dragged its anchor because of a strong current.

The crew tried to control the vessel, but it could not hold its position and came into contact with bulk carrier MV Sea Alison.

The contact caused slight damage to Sea Alison’s port bow, according to the CPA.

References: thedailystar, observerbd