Ctg port operation resumes partly
Friday, 24 April 2009
CHITTAGONG, Apr 23 (UNB): Movement of ships to and from Chittagong seaport resumed partially Thursday morning through a passage created by dredging the bay channel jammed following the capsize of a clinker-laden lighter vessel.
In the shipwreck, the master of the vessel who also went under was found drowned after a hectic search.
Police recovered the body of Nurul Bahar (35), the master of the vesel, from near jetty no 11 Wednesday night and sent to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue.
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) allowed movement of inland vessels from Thursday morning. They also managed to remove nine ships stranded in inland area of the seaport after the accident by making way through dredging.
"Efforts are on to remove the sunken vessel from the channel, but it is difficult to continue the salvage operation as the sea remained rough," said one CPA official.
Following the sinking of the clinker-laden vessel, some 43 ships got stranded at the outer anchorage, unable to enter the channel for berthing at the port.
On Tuesday evening, the lighter with clinker capsized at the estuary of the Karnaphuli River, jamming the shipping channel from Chittagong Seaport into the Bay of Bengal and impeding shipping operations.
Among 12 crewmembers of the vessel, 11 managed to swim ashore while its master, Bahar, went missing and met his end.
In the shipwreck, the master of the vessel who also went under was found drowned after a hectic search.
Police recovered the body of Nurul Bahar (35), the master of the vesel, from near jetty no 11 Wednesday night and sent to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue.
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) allowed movement of inland vessels from Thursday morning. They also managed to remove nine ships stranded in inland area of the seaport after the accident by making way through dredging.
"Efforts are on to remove the sunken vessel from the channel, but it is difficult to continue the salvage operation as the sea remained rough," said one CPA official.
Following the sinking of the clinker-laden vessel, some 43 ships got stranded at the outer anchorage, unable to enter the channel for berthing at the port.
On Tuesday evening, the lighter with clinker capsized at the estuary of the Karnaphuli River, jamming the shipping channel from Chittagong Seaport into the Bay of Bengal and impeding shipping operations.
Among 12 crewmembers of the vessel, 11 managed to swim ashore while its master, Bahar, went missing and met his end.