MV Aichgati

DoS files case against sunken vessel’s owner

 The Department of Shipping (DoS) yesterday prosecuted the owner and master of the coal-loaded vessel MV Aichgati that sank at Fairway Buoy near the Sundarbans on Friday morning. The DoS officials primarily found that the vessel was overloaded and that caused cracks on its bottom as a result of high tide and waves. “We’ve cancelled the survey and registration certificates of the sunken vessel as per the primary report. Master Sohel Rana of the vessel has also been suspended,” DoS chief inspector Shafiqur Rahman told The Independent yesterday.
He also said a three-member committee, led by ship surveyor Shahriar Hossain, has been formed to probe the accident. “We’ve filed the case against the owner of the vessel, Kazi Golam Faruk and its master Sohel Rana. The primary investigation found that the vessel was overloaded,” the DoS chief inspector said in reply to a query. He, however, said more action would be taken after getting the final report.
MV Aichgati, a lighterage, carrying around 1,100 tonnes of coal to Noapara in Jessore, sank at Fairway Buoy area in the Bay of Bengal near Hiron Point in the Chandpai range on Friday around 8am. Mongla Port Authority’s harbour master commander, Mohammad Waliullah, said they had already directed Noapara Traders of Jessore to take necessary steps to salvage the vessel immediately.
Experts have already warned that the Sundarbans and its ecology, rivers and channels, would face dire threats if such accidents occur frequently. According to sources, it will not be possible to salvage the vessel as it sank into deep water of the Bay of Bengal. Three vessels sank in the Sundarbans area in recent months, raising serious concerns over the safety of the world heritage site and mangrove forest and its wildlife. On December 9, 2014, an oil tanker Southern Star 7 sank and oil spread to the far corners of the forest with the current of the Shela river. A vessel carrying fertilisers sank in Pasur on October 28, 2015 and another vessel with coal sank in Shela on March 19, 2016.

 

MV Aichgati

DoS files case against sunken vessels owner

The Department of Shipping (DoS) yesterday prosecuted the owner and master of the coal-loaded vessel MV Aichgati that sank at Fairway Buoy near the Sundarbans on Friday morning. The DoS officials primarily found that the vessel was overloaded and that caused cracks on its bottom as a result of high tide and waves. Weve cancelled the survey and registration certificates of the sunken vessel as per the primary report. Master Sohel Rana of the vessel has also been suspended, DoS chief inspector Shafiqur Rahman told The Independent yesterday. He also said a three-member committee, led by ship surveyor Shahriar Hossain, has been formed to probe the accident. Weve filed the case against the owner of the vessel, Kazi Golam Faruk and its master Sohel Rana. The primary investigation found that the vessel was overloaded, the DoS chief inspector said in reply to a query. He, however, said more action would be taken after getting the final report. MV Aichgati, a lighterage, carrying around 1,100 tonnes of coal to Noapara in Jessore, sank at Fairway Buoy area in the Bay of Bengal near Hiron Point in the Chandpai range on Friday around 8am. Mongla Port Authoritys harbour master commander, Mohammad Waliullah, said they had already directed Noapara Traders of Jessore to take necessary steps to salvage the vessel immediately. Experts have already warned that the Sundarbans and its ecology, rivers and channels, would face dire threats if such accidents occur frequently. According to sources, it will not be possible to salvage the vessel as it sank into deep water of the Bay of Bengal. Three vessels sank in the Sundarbans area in recent months, raising serious concerns over the safety of the world heritage site and mangrove forest and its wildlife. On December 9, 2014, an oil tanker Southern Star 7 sank and oil spread to the far corners of the forest with the current of the Shela river. A vessel carrying fertilisers sank in Pasur on October 28, 2015 and another vessel with coal sank in Shela on March 19, 2016.