Clinker-laden lighter vessel capsizes in Bay of Bengal

Thirteen people onboard the vessel are rescued soon after it capsized in the Bay of Bengal on Sunday, April 17, 2016

Thirteen people onboard the vessel are rescued soon after it capsized in the Bay of Bengal on Sunday, April 17, 2016

A lighter vessel carrying around 1,400 tonnes of clinkers and with 13 people on board capsized in the Bay of Bengal near Hatia coast after another vessel hit it yesterday morning.

“The vessel, MV Tito- 12, was heading towards Munshiganj from the Karnaphuli River. When sailing along Sandwip channel, it suddenly got collided with MV Suhi-3 at 9:00am and began capsizing,” said Nabi Alam, general secretary of Lighter Vessel Workers’ Union.

Later, two other vessels from Karnaphuli jetty rushed to the spot and rescued the people on board in the afternoon, said Abul Kashem, master of MV Tito-13, adding that the accident might have occurred owing to strong current. Source: The Daily Star