Seven days after sinking, lighter vessel “Shagor Nandini-2”, carrying 1.1 million litres of fuel oil, was salvaged at Tulatuli point of Meghna River in Bhola on Sunday.
The rescue work of the sunken vessel started after 7am and it was possible to float the vessel by 10:30am, said Md Selim, joint director of the Marine Management and Conservation Division of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).
Md Selim said Shagor Nandini-2 has been floated by two barges using local technology. “Currently fuel oil is being transferred to another vessel named ‘Shagor Nandini-3'. Apart from this, another rescue vessel has been kept in reserve.”
Bangladesh Coast Guard, naval police, private salvage companies and Mongla port ship “Agni Prahari” assisted in the rescue operation under the leadership of BIWTA, said the official.
Five divers, including two divers from BIWTA, worked continuously in the rescue operation, he added.
After removing the oil, Shagor Nandini-2 will be sent to Chandpur with the help of another vessel, the joint director said.
“Usually, it takes only two-three days to rescue such ships. But our divers could not work properly due to the strong current in the Meghna River. That is why it took us seven days to salvage the vessel,” he added.
Asif Malik, the owner of the vessel, deputy general manager and head of the investigation committee of Padma Oil Company Limited said the oil is being transferred from the vessel to Shagor Nandini-3.
“When the extraction is over, it can be calculated how much of the oil has been washed away,” he said.
The lighter vessel with 1.1 million litres of fuel sank after being hit by another vessel in Meghna River due to dense fog in sadar upazila of Bhola district on December 25.
All 13 crew members of the vessel were rescued by another vessel passing through the area.
Three investigation committees had been formed by the BIWTA, Petrobangla and Padma Oil Company Limited.
No probe report has been submitted to the concerned authorities till the filling of this report.
