Five missing as bulkhead ship sinks near Mongla port

Mongla Port - File Photo - UNB

Bagerhat, Nov 16 -- Five crew members went missing after a coal-laden bulkhead ship capsized in the Poshur river near Mongla Port following a collision with a merchant vessel on Monday night.

The accident occurred around 9.30pm near the port's Harbaria-9 point as Dhaka-bound MV Fardin-1 was departing after loading coal from MV Alina-B. The collision with MV Handipark left at least seven crew members missing, officials said.

Though two of the crew members managed to swim to safety, others went missing. The Bangladesh Coast Guard said that search operation continued till 12pm on Tuesday.

According to the harbour department of Mongla Port, the bulkhead partially sank.

Md Lokman Hossain, supervisor of Messrs T Hawk that owned the bulkhead, said they had apprised the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Navy, as well as the port authorities of the accident last night only.

"The sunken bulkhead was carrying 350 metric tonnes of coal at the time of the accident," he added.

Meanwhile, Md Fakar Uddin, Harbour Master of the Mongla Port Authority, said bulkhead vessels with one hedge are prohibited from transporting coal. 

"They can carry only sand. The Directorate General of Shipping has been asked to take strict action against the bulkhead owners," he added. - UNB