Fire on vessel at Ctg port’s outer anchorage brought under control

A fire which erupted in the engine room of a cargo vessel at the Charlie point of the Chattogram Port’s outer anchorage, near Parki Beach early this morning (28 May), was successfully brought under control.

The incident, which occurred on board the oil tanker MT Meghna Traders at around 7:30am, triggered an immediate coordinated emergency response mobilisation of maritime rescue units such as Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), the Bangladesh Navy, and the Coast Guard.

There have been no immediate casualties at the time of filing this report.

Soon after the blaze broke out, the vessel’s crew evacuated the affected engine room and promptly released carbon dioxide into the sealed compartment to suppress the flames and contain the fire within the section.

Upon being alerted, the CPA dispatched its specialised tugboats, Kandari 3 and Kandari 11, to the scene. These vessels were immediately joined by the Bangladesh Navy tug BNT Sebok and the Bangladesh Coast Guard tug Promotto in a synchronised firefighting and rescue operation.

Port sources confirmed that the vessel had arrived at the Chattogram outer anchorage on 26 May, laden with a consignment of RBD soybean oil imported from Indonesia.

Following the successful containment of the engine room blaze, officials stated that the CPA, the Coast Guard, the Navy, and the vessel’s local shipping agent, USL, are stationed at the site to provide necessary on-site support and ensure the ongoing stability of the ship.