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Banglar Shourabh

Banglar Shourabh

Banglar Shourabh
Photo: bdnews24.com

On the early morning of October 4, the 138 meter long, 14,494 dwt oil tanker Banglar Shourabh (IMO: 8508955) caught fire while at the outer anchorage off Chittagong, Bangladesh. The Banglar Shourabh was loaded with 11,000 mt of crude oil that was to be unloaded at the port jetty when fire broke out at different sections of the vessel.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard had a speedboat in the area at the time of the fire. It along with 3 other Coast Guard vessels safely rescued 47 of the 48 crew on board the tanker. A fire fighting tugboat assisted by several tugboats from the port authority to extinguish the blaze. Reports state after 30 minutes, the combine effort had brought the fire under control. One of the crew on the Banglar Shourabh perished from injuries caused by the fire.

Banglar Shourabh

Authorities have not released the extent of damage to the Banglar Shourabh. An initial report stated the fire may have been deliberate and suggest sabotage. However, the incident is still under investigation. On September 30, the tanker Banglar Jyoti exploded while berthed in Chittagong.  Both the Banlar Shourabh and Banglar Jyoti are owned by Bangladesh Shipping Corporation.

On October 7, some 5,000 mt of crude oil was transferred off to a smaller tanker to be transferred to the nearby Eastern Refinery. Authorities have chartered the tanker Global Dignity to transport the remaining oil off the tanker Omera Legacy to the refinery.

 

Banglar Jyoti

Banglar Jyoti

Banglar Jyoti
Photo: bdnews24.com

On the morning of September 30, the 138 meter long, 14,541 dwt tanker Banglar Jyoti (IMO: 8508943) exploded while unloading crude oil in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The Banglar Jyoti was under going routine maintenance/repair work on the forecastle when oil vapors ignited. The resulting explosion ripped open the deck at the forepeak and setting the vessel on fire. Local authorities aided by the Coast Guard, Bangladesh Navy and fire fighters were able to bring the fire under control a few hours later. Three crew were killed by the blast. No further details reported if any other people were injured.

Reports stated that only 800 tons of crude oil had been discharged at the time of the explosion with some 10,900 tons still on board the tanker. All crude oil will be unloaded if the vessel is found safe and machinery is still operational.  Reports state the Banglar Jyoti will be taken to a shipyard for inspection and possibly be salvaged and put back into service. However, the Banglar Jyoti was built in 1987 and past its operational lifespan.

Local authorities nor ship owners have disclosed if the tanker had followed inerting procedures or if the vents were open at the time of the explosion. Inerting has been adopted widely after the SS Sansinena exploded in Los Angeles harbor in 1976.  Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Collision off Chittagong

Collision off Chittagong

Navios Celestial

On September 7, the 190 meter long, 58,063 dwt bulk carrier Navios Celestial (IMO: 9496226) collided in the Bay of Bengal with the 167 meter long, 28387 dwt bulk carrier Friendly Islands (IMO: 9615042) on the outer anchorage of Chittagong, Bangladesh. The Navios Celestial loaded with 44,000 tons of fertilizer had its anchor drag which allowed the vessel to drift into Friendly Islands which had some 27,000 tons of lentils in its hold.  Both vessels sustained minor damage, but no injuries, water ingress or pollution released.

Both bulk carriers shifted their anchorage position while authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Friendly Islands