A cargo vessel carrying 1,200 tonnes of raw materials capsized near Chattogram Port after suffering a mechanical failure, officials confirmed on Saturday. The incident occurred at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Karnaphuli River within the port’s boundary.
The lighter vessel “MV Zayan” developed mechanical problems on Friday night and partially sank on Saturday morning near Patenga Seabeach while being towed toward the shore.
Chattogram Port Secretary Omar Faruk said the ship loaded 1,200 tonnes of ball clay – raw materials for the ceramic industry – from the outer anchorage and was enroute to Dhaka.
“The vessel went down midway, and the entire cargo was damaged. However, ship movement through the port channel remains unaffected,” he said.
Kazi Mohammad Shiblu, operations officer of the vessel’s owning company Zayan Shipping Lines, said, “Around 8:00pm on Friday, the vessel’s steering failed, and its engine developed a fault. It was anchored in place overnight.”
“When it was being brought closer to shore in the morning, it began sinking, with more than half of the vessel going underwater. All 13 crew members are safe.”
