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The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has fined the master of foreign-flagged vessel MV CNC Uranus and its shipping agent, American President Lines (APL), Tk 1 crore for allegedly concealing a mechanical fault before entering the port, resulting in an accident.
The parties will also have to pay Tk 15 lakh in VAT, according to sources.
The port’s Harbour Department issued the penalty order on Monday, while the CPA secretary’s office confirmed the matter on Tuesday.
The penalty was imposed for violating port regulations and creating a serious safety risk by allowing the vessel to enter the port despite a known technical problem, port authorities said.
According to port sources, MV CNC Uranus arrived at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port on August 2 carrying containers from China’s Shekou Port.
The following day, August 3, the vessel lost steering control while entering the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).
Amid the high tide, the vessel drifted out of control, hit the retaining wall near the Bangladesh Naval Academy on the Karnaphuli River and ran aground.
Six tugboats from the CPA, Coast Guard, Navy and other agencies worked overnight to refloat the vessel and move it to a safe location.
An investigation by the CPA’s Harbour Department found that the vessel had developed the technical fault before arriving at Chattogram and was supposed to enter the port only after the problem had been fixed. However, the fault was allegedly concealed and the vessel entered the port carrying a large number of containers.
The port authority said the consequences could have been far more serious had the vessel lost control in the main navigation channel. It could have caused a major accident, blocked the channel and endangered other vessels and marine pilots operating in the port.
Considering the serious safety risk and to prevent similar incidents in the future, the Harbour Department issued the penalty order against the vessel’s master and shipping agent, signed by Harbour Master Zahirul Islam.
Enamul Haque Titu, head of operations of APL Bangladesh, confirmed that the shipping agent had received the penalty letter.