A cargo ship carrying 500 metric tonnes of Muriate of Potash (MOP) fertilizer sank in the Herbaria area of the Poshur Channel of Mongla Port on Tuesday night after collision with another ship.
Eight crew members of the vessel were rescued by the Coast Guard members.
Mongla Port harbour master Captain Mohammed Shaheen Majeed said the vessel named MV Shahjalal Express was heading towards Jashore’s Nawapara after loading the fertilisers from MV Vita Olympic ship.
Due to dense fog, it collided with the MV Supreme Valor, a foreign ship, at 11 pm on Tuesday and sank in Poshur Channel.
He said that although the ship sank in the main channel, navigation through that channel is normal and risk-free.
Eight crew members of the MV Shahjalal Express were rescued by the Coast Guard West zone members and they took shelter immediately on the MV Nayan Shayan and Mahmud Raihan cargo ship, said Mizanur Rahman, Khulna zone manager of Park Shipping which is the local shipping agent of MV Vita Olympic vessel.
The owner of MV Shahjalal Express was asked to salvage the vessel, Captain Shaheen said adding that, if the owner fails to do so within 15 days, the port authorities will take necessary action as per the port rules.
