Lighter vessel sinks in Karnaphuli, all 12 crew rescued

A stone-laden lighter vessel sank in the River Karnaphuli early Tuesday after colliding with another vessel.

All 12 crew members survived the incident, with eight rescued from the water by the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the remaining four managing to swim ashore.

Lt Commander Sabbir Alam Suzan, media officer of the Coast Guard, said the vessel, “MV Bay Harbour-2”, collided head-on with another lighter vessel, “Samuda-6”, in the Karnaphuli channel at around 3:30am.

The MV Bay Harbour-2 sustained severe hull damage in the collision and became partially submerged between buoys 2 and 3.

Upon receiving the information, Coast Guard personnel launched an immediate rescue operation, pulling eight crew members from the river. The remaining four were swept away by strong currents but successfully made it ashore near Parki Beach.

The Chittagong Port Authority’s Acting Secretary Md Nasir Uddin confirmed that the vessel, owned by Bay Harbour Limited, remains partially submerged.

He added that the accident has not obstructed the port channel, and the movement of vessels to and from the Chattogram Port jetties continues as normal.