Earlier, the vessel was involved in an accident on 5 August while attempting to berth at Chattogram Port.
A view of Chattogram Port. Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS
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A view of Chattogram Port. Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS
The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has fined the master and shipping agent of the container vessel MV CNC Uranus Tk1 crore for allegedly concealing a malfunction in the ship’s steering system before entering the port channel.
The port authority also imposed 15% VAT amounting to Tk15 lakh, according to a letter issued by CPA Harbour Master Captain Mohammad Zahirul Islam yesterday (10 August).
It also instructed APL (Bangladesh) Pvt Ltd, the vessel’s shipping agent, to deposit two pay orders covering the Tk1 crore fine and Tk15 lakh in VAT and also directed its finance and accounts department to take necessary steps to collect the penalty.
Earlier, the vessel was involved in an accident on 5 August while attempting to berth at Chattogram Port. Following the steering failure the vessel ran aground at the port channel.
According to the CPA letter, the vessel’s master concealed the malfunction of the steering gear hydraulic locking alarm while completing the Master/Pilot Information Exchange Checklist with CPA pilots in accordance with the International Safety Management (ISM) Code.
The master informed the pilots about the problem only shortly before the vessel entered the port channel and subsequently handed over a certificate issued by DNV, the vessel’s classification society.
The certificate contained conditions stating that a risk assessment had been implemented, that the steering system was functioning properly, and that the pilot and port authorities at the vessel’s port of call must be notified of the malfunction in accordance with Technical Notice SLS-27.
The CPA said despite the condition specifically requiring the vessel to notify the pilot and port authorities immediately upon arrival, the master and agent concealed the matter.
“Concealing the defect in the vessel’s steering gear hydraulic locking alarm and the conditions imposed by the class, and attempting to enter and berth at the port, appears to be a risk to port safety,” the CPA said in the letter.
The authority said operating the vessel without timely informing the relevant authorities about such defects and limitations put the safety of the port, vessel, pilots, port infrastructure and other vessels at serious risk and tarnished the reputation of the port.
The vessel’s incident on 5 August had earlier prompted assistance from the CPA, Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard as the vessel ran aground at the estuary of Karnaphuli river channel. It took hours to refloat the vessel safely and take it back to outer anchorage.
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