Survey ship goes down at Payra Port

Express-54, a survey ship of Belgium-based company Jan De Nul excavating the Rabnabad channel at Patuakhali's Payra Port, capsized yesterday noon, following a leak.  

The survey vessel sank about 7 nautical miles south off the fairway buoy of the port in the channel.

Twelve on board the ship -- 10 Indonesian crew members and two Bangladeshis -- were rescued safely by fishing and tug boats, Capt SM Sharifur Rahman, harbour master of the port, told The Daily Star.

The Indonesian crew members are: Master Arham Abdul Rahim, Chief Officer Md Rizal, Second Officer Darmawan, Chief Engineer Muhammad Nur, Second Engineer Tri Yanto, Euler-1 Rahmat Fadilla, Audi Christian, Euler-2 Muhammad Agam Fayez Zulfa, and Cook Jojua Engelbert. The two Bangladeshis are: surveyors Saiduzzaman Emon and Sohanuzzaman Sumon.

Capt Sharifur said the incident happened after the ship developed a leak in the machine room during excavation work.

The crew members immediately sought help from a nearby fishing boat, which rescued them from the vessel. Later, tug boats from the Jan De Nul and the Payra Port authorities rushed to the spot and took the 12 people to safety.

Efforts were underway to salvage the survey ship, he added.