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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.

ThaiLaemthong 8

ThaiLaemthong 8

ThaiLaemthong 8
Photo: pattayamail.com

On September 17, the 87 meter long 2999 dwt tanker Thailaemthong 8 ran aground in the Gulf of Thailand on the shore of Koh Mai Si, Koh Kood, Thailand. The Thailaemthong 8 was returning to Rayong after delivering a cargo of green oil, a fuel used in local fishing boats, when it suffered an engine breakdown and power failure in bad weather. Waves of 2 to 3 meters pushed the disabled tanker until it grounded on the rocks just offshore. A distress call was sent to authorities, but heavy seas prevented any rescue boats reaching the vessel initially.  Eventually, a boat was able to navigate out to the tanker and found the Thailaemthong 8 in stable condition.

See video on the grounding

The Thailaemthong 8 sustained hull damage and water ingress. The tanker’s engine room has been flooded, but the vessel’s pumps have been able to control the flooding. The tanker is in no danger of sinking. No reports of injuries to the 10 crew on board.  There are some concerns of oil pollution being released and the tanker is being monitored. Since there was minimal oil on board, authorities suggest minimal risk of environmental damage.

Reports state the Thailaemthong 8  had dropped anchor and waiting for repairs. No details on salvage or refloating efforts.