All 12 sailors of the vessel managed to swim ashore safely
A cargo vessel carrying almost 800 tons of coal has capsized at Pashur channel near Mongla port of Bagerhat.
The vessel, MV BB-1148, sank near Baniashanta area of the channel after colliding with another at 11:30pm on Saturday night, Mongla police station Sub-Inspector Jahangir confirmed.
Meanwhile, all 12 sailors of the capsized cargo vessel managed to swim ashore safely.
Talking to Md Osman, master of the capsized cargo ship, said his vessel collided with another when it was heading towards Mongla port from Harbaria through the Pashur channel.
Although the vessel is yet to be salvaged, Mongla port authority said the port’s prime channel remains safe and regular activities of the port will not be hampered due to the accident.
Fakhar Uddin, harbormaster of Mongla Port, said: “The owner of the cargo could not start the rescue operation on Sunday. The authority has contacted a private rescue team from Kalia in Gopalganj.”
The rescue team is scheduled to start working on the rescue operation on Monday morning, he added.
Fakhar also said the cargo sank outside the main channel. As the cargo is not sinking even at high tide, no marking was required.
The cargo is half-submerged in the Pashur River in Chila area of Ismail, one kilometer south of Mongla port.
The matter has been taken under the supervision of the port to ensure that there is no obstruction in the movement of ships in the port channel, Fakhar confirmed.
