Three vessels were damaged in two separate collisions at Chattogram Port anchorages on 29 September, including an incident involving two foreign bulk carriers and a lighter vessel at Kutubdia anchorage, according to Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) officials.
The first collision occurred around 8:30am at Kutubdia anchorage, involving Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV APJ Shirin and Liberia-flagged MV HG Sydney.
The second incident took place around 11:30am at the Alpha Anchorage area of the port’s outer anchorage, where Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier MV Akij Wave came into contact with MV Sea Alison after reportedly dragging its anchor in strong currents.
No casualties or pollution were reported in either incident.
CPA Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim confirmed the incidents, saying no probe committee was formed as no CPA pilots were onboard either vessel during the collisions.
“As no CPA pilots were onboard during both incidents, we did not form any probe committee. Usually, when any collision occurs, the insurance companies of the colliding vessels mutually resolve the compensation issues,” he told The Business Standard.
Lighter caught between bulk carriers
APJ Shirin had arrived from Indonesia about a week earlier carrying around 55,000 tonnes of coal and was anchored at Kutubdia with a lighter vessel alongside to receive the cargo.
HG Sydney, carrying around 51,000 tonnes of soybeans from Brazil, was manoeuvring towards the anchorage after weighing anchor when it came close to APJ Shirin.
According to CPA officials and shipping agents, HG Sydney struck the side of APJ Shirin while a lighter vessel was positioned between the two bulk carriers.
Belayet Hossain, director of Litmond Shipping, the local agent for HG Sydney, said the lighter, MV Sani-5, was empty at the time and moved away immediately after the impact.
He said HG Sydney suffered slight damage to its port-side hull.
CPA Secretary Hamim said both foreign vessels were subsequently secured in safe positions.
“There were no casualties or pollution,” he said.
The CPA’s Vessel Traffic Management Information System recorded the incident as minor contact between HG Sydney and APJ Shirin while the former was manoeuvring towards Kutubdia Alpha Anchorage.
Both vessels reported the incident to VTMIS and later secured their positions. An inspection was initiated to assess possible damage to the port side of HG Sydney.
Lighter owner alleges major damage
The owner of Sani-5, however, gave a different account, alleging that HG Sydney hit the front section of the lighter with considerable force.
In a letter to Litmond Shipping, owner Jamal Hossain alleged that the collision damaged Sani-5’s superstructure from its lower section up to the upper deck.
The lighter was carrying coal belonging to QNS Shipping Logistics and was scheduled to transport the cargo from Kutubdia to Payra, according to the letter.
Hossain said the lighter had recently been docked and was making its first trip after loading the coal when the collision occurred.
Hossain Enterprise requested a joint survey to assess the damage and sought compensation. The owner described the vessel as having suffered “total damage” in the letter.
The differing accounts are expected to be clarified through a damage assessment and any joint survey.
Second collision at Alpha Anchorage
The second collision occurred around 11:30am at the Alpha Anchorage area of Chattogram Port’s outer anchorage.
CPA officials said MV Akij Wave dragged its anchor because of strong currents while at the anchorage. The crew attempted to control the vessel, but it came into contact with bulk carrier MV Sea Alison.
The contact caused slight damage to Sea Alison’s port bow, according to the CPA. No casualties or pollution were reported.
Five incidents reported in August
The latest incidents come after a cluster of vessel accidents and contacts in and around Chattogram Port in August.
The most serious was the collision between tanker MV Sea Spike and MV Sun Shine on 14 August. Seawater entered through the damaged hull and flooded an area below the engine room, disabling the generator and main engine.
The CPA, Coast Guard and tugboats rushed to the scene, while floating oil booms were deployed as a precaution against possible pollution. The tanker’s diesel cargo tanks were not damaged, preventing a potentially serious spill.
The Department of Shipping subsequently formed a two-member committee to investigate the accident.
On 16 August, slag carrier MV Anassa, affected by strong currents, lightly touched the bow of anchored MV Jahab Jahan at Alpha Anchorage. No one was injured, and no water ingress or environmental pollution was reported.
Earlier, on 3 August, Malta-flagged container vessel MV CNC Uranus lost its steering gear while approaching Chattogram Port. The vessel struck red navigation buoy No 2 before drifting towards the shore and becoming lodged against a stone embankment near a Bangladesh Navy installation.
The vessel, carrying 1,282 import containers, was heading towards the New Mooring Container Terminal. The CPA and Department of Shipping launched separate investigations into the incident.
The concentration of vessel collisions, groundings and navigation-related incidents within a short period has raised concerns among port and shipping stakeholders about navigational arrangements as vessel traffic grows and ships operate under challenging weather and sea conditions.
The incidents also highlight the risks at the outer anchorage, where strong currents, vessel manoeuvring and lighterage operations take place alongside large ocean-going vessels.
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