Cargo Ship Carrying 1,250 Tonnes of Coal Sinks After Tanker Collision in the Pashur River; Nine Crew Swim to Safety

A cargo vessel, MV Fulbari, carrying 1,250 metric tonnes of coal has sunk in the Pashur River at Mongla Port in Bagerhat after being hit by an oil tanker. All nine crew members of the sunken vessel swam to a nearby cargo ship and survived.

The accident occurred at around 9pm on Monday (October 26) in the Sundari Kotha area of the Pashur Channel.

The vessel's master, Sujon Molla, said MV Fulbari had loaded coal during the day on Monday from the foreign merchant ship MV Yas Jupiter, anchored at Hiran Point of Mongla Port, and set off for Mongla.

When it reached the Sundari Kotha area of the Pashur Channel at around 9pm, an oil tanker struck their vessel. The cargo ship was damaged in the collision and eventually sank in the river.

The cargo ship's driver, Prashanta Chandra Sheikh, said the nine staff on board quickly swam to a cargo ship nearby and took shelter there, so everyone survived.

However, he said the vessel has sunk completely underwater, and no part of it can now be seen from the river's surface.

According to related sources, MV Fulbari, owned by IRS International, was carrying about 1,250 metric tonnes of coal. The coal-laden vessel was bound for Ghorashal, but it sank in the accident before reaching its destination.

Although the accident raised concerns about navigation in the Pashur Channel, the Mongla Port Authority said vessel movement on the main navigation route has not been disrupted.

Commodore Md Shafiqul Islam Sarker, the port authority's member (harbour and marine), said: “The main navigation route of the Pashur Channel is completely safe. Vessel movement through this channel is normal. The owners of the sunken vessel are arranging to salvage it quickly.”