Mongla, Oct 29 (V7N) – A cargo vessel carrying 1,250 metric tonnes of coal that sank after being hit by an oil tanker in the Pashur River in the Sundarbans has yet to be located, two days after the accident. Salvage operations have not begun, while forest officials say no visible oil spill or immediate signs of environmental damage have been found at the site.

Representatives of the Forest Department and the coal-owning company separately inspected the accident area on Wednesday but failed to determine the exact location of the sunken vessel. The depth of the river and high tide reportedly made it difficult to assess the situation.

The vessel, MV Fulbari, sank on Monday night in the Sundari Kotha area of the Pashur Channel. All nine crew members survived after swimming to a nearby cargo vessel and taking shelter aboard it.

Although no visible oil slick or coal deposits were found during the initial inspections, the Forest Department said it was monitoring the area to assess any potential environmental impact if coal had escaped from the sunken vessel.

Port Authority Gives Owner 15 Days to Recover Vessel

Mongla Port Authority has issued a letter giving the vessel's owner 15 days to remove the sunken cargo vessel from the river.

Mohammad Salahuddin Kabir, deputy director of the port authority's Board and Public Relations Department, said the port's Harbour Department had set the deadline for the owner to complete the removal.

He warned that legal action would be taken if the vessel was not recovered within the stipulated period.

The vessel sank outside the main navigation channel, and authorities said vessel movements along the principal route remained normal.

Forest Department Finds No Immediate Signs of Damage

Dipon Chandra Das, assistant conservator of forests at the Chandpai Range of the eastern Sundarbans, said a team led by the divisional forest officer inspected the area but could not identify the vessel's location.

He said the river's depth and the high tide at the time of inspection made it difficult to assess the site properly. Officials also found no visible coal deposits or oil slicks in the surrounding water.

The Forest Department is continuing to monitor the area to determine whether any coal has escaped and what effects it could have on the Sundarbans ecosystem.

Mohammad Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, divisional forest officer of the eastern Sundarbans, said searches conducted from Wednesday morning until afternoon had failed to locate the sunken vessel.

He said divers were working to determine its position and that the vessel might become easier to locate during low tide.

Chowdhury said the initial inspection had revealed no visible signs of harmful substances spreading from the vessel. He added that coal does not dissolve in water, although the department would continue monitoring the site for possible environmental effects.

Vessel's Master Files General Diary

The master of the sunken cargo vessel has filed a general diary (GD) with Mongla Police Station regarding the accident.

Officer-in-Charge Atikur Rahman confirmed that the GD had been recorded.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Bepari, a representative of Messrs Tania Shipping Lines, the company that owns the cargo vessel, said preparations were underway to file a lawsuit against the company that owns the oil tanker involved in the collision.

The exact circumstances of the collision and responsibility for the accident may be determined through further investigation.

Salvage and Environmental Monitoring Await Vessel's Location

The failure to locate the vessel has delayed the start of salvage operations. Authorities are waiting for its position to be established so that recovery work can proceed.

While initial inspections found no visible oil spill or immediate signs of environmental damage, the Forest Department is continuing to monitor the area for any release of coal or other potential effects on the river and surrounding wildlife.

The port authority has set a 15-day deadline for the vessel's removal, placing responsibility on the owner to recover the sunken ship within the specified period.

END/AHS/SMA/