Oil-tanker sinks after being hit by cargo vessel in river at Sundarbans

Mongla Coast Guard’s Contingent Commander (West Zone) Mehedi Masud said that the ‘OT Southern Star 7’ was hit around 5am at the Chandpai Range of Sundarban’s West Zone in Bagerhat. “The oil is spilling off in the river. Seven of the crews manage to swim to the shore but the ship’s captain Mokhles is still missing.” Quoting the owners, the Coast Guard officer said that the ship started for a power plant in Gopalganj on Monday afternoon from the Khulna Old Depot carrying 357,664 litres of furnace oil. “The ship was anchored on the Shela River at the forest’s Chandpai Range during the night. It started around 5am amid dense fog. After a while an empty cargo ship ‘Total’ rammed it from behind.” The cargo ship was heading to Chittagong after unloading at the Mongla Port in Bagerhat. Eight crewmen including the captain, Mokhles were on board the sunken vessel, said Md Gias Uddin, the manger of the oil tanker’s owning company MS Harun & Co. –bdnews24.com