Fertiliser-laden vessel sinks in Bay

CHITTAGONG, Sept 13: A lighterage vessel, engaged in unloading fertilizer from a mother vessel, sank in the Bay along with 500 tonnes of fertilizer at the outer-anchorage of Chittagong Port early Saturday. Port sources said the vessel, 'MV Bengal Bridge', capsized as water poured into its engine room while the fertilizer was being unloaded from the mother vessel, MV Alex BD, a Singapore flag carrier, at about 4am. Twelve people, including two masters, aboard the vessel were unharmed as they quickly got into the mother vessel, carrying 30,000 tons of fertilizer. The sunken vessel could not be salvaged till filing of the report. — UNB