An investigation committee comprising three members has been formed by the Department of Shipping, Bangladesh regarding sinking of Bangladesh flagged vessel MV Marintrust-1 at Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port, Kolkata.
The committee will visit the place of incident to investigate the matter, according to a letter written to the Department of Shipping, India on Thursday.
The vessel was operated under Coastal Shipping Agreement.
The vessel is being taken over by Hull and Machinery insurer after the incident and now the crew member (15 members) are staying at a lodge arranged by the local agent of vessel.
Department of Shipping, Bangladesh desires safe repatriation of the crew members of Marintrust-1 and requested the Indian side to facilitate repatriation as soon as possible as per the Coastal Shipping Agreement.
The preliminary enquiry revealed that the accident took place due to unplanned loading cargo by the ships staff, according to Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata
The incident took place on March 24 and since then the owner has not bothered to visit the port to secure the vessel.
Container vessel MV MarineTrust -01 destined to Chittagong Port at Bangladesh from Netaji Subhas Dock (NSD) of SMP Kolkata listed heavily at berth No.5 of NSD and took into water after completion of loading of containers.
The salvage operation was handled over to a salvor by the owner not recognized by H&M insurance or P&I insurance.
Now the salvor has discontinued the operation and the owner had declared the vessel abandoned in sunken condition.
The 15 crew members of the vessel has been taken care of and safely kept at Marine Club.
Now the vessel being abandoned by the owner, the port or P&I club will have to take the responsibility for re-floatation of the Vessel and restoration of the berth.
Once the vessel is refloated they will be required for service and watch keeping duties.
The H&M insurer have declined to declare the vessel total loss now so technically the owners is not absolved of their responsibility to Salvage the vessel.
The crew is aware about the vessel and thier services will be required once the salvage operation start.
Thus thier presence is needed, said SMP Kolkata.
Source: United News of Bangladesh