Two lighter vessels capsize at bay

Two lighter vessels, carrying cement clinker, capsized at bay near Bhasan Char yesterday due to rough tides.

Two crew members of one of the lighter vessels remained missing while rescuers of Bangladesh Navy with the help of two helicopters of Bangladesh Air Force managed to rescue 21 following the incidents.

Three Navy vessels -- BNS Suravi, BNS Samudra Joy and BNS Saibal -- continued search operation till filing of this report at 8:30pm.

MV Titu-18 and MV Titu-19, after loading around 3,000 tonnes of cement clinker from a mother vessel anchored at Kutubdia, arrived at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port on Tuesday night, said Belayet Hossain, executive officer of the mother vessel’s local agent Litmond Shipping.

The vessels left the outer anchorage yesterday morning and were on their way to Narayanganj when they were caught up in stormy wind near Bhasan Char around 11:30am, he added.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Deputy Director Mohammad Selim said the vessels started sinking after water entered into one of the vessels through cracks developed on its bottom while the other tilted on one side.

Cautionary signal no-3 has been hoisted for Chattogram Port, he informed, adding that Shah Cement Factory was importer of the cement clinker and the lighter vessels were also owned by the company.

The accident happened around 20km off Bhasan Char.

Contacted, Commander Rashedul Karim, staff officer (operation) to Commander BN Fleet, said being informed, Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Durjoy rushed to the spot and managed to rescue 10 out of 13 crew members of MV Titu-18.

One crew member was rescued by the staff of a cargo vessel passing by, while two others were missing, said the navy official.

As their rescue vessel failed to reach the partly sunk MV Titu-19 due to shallow water, they sought help from Bangladesh Air Force who sent two helicopters. The choppers rescued 11 crew members from the deck of MV Titu-19.