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The container vessel Nawata Bhum has crashed into a riverbank near Diamond Harbour in West Bengal amid turbulent conditions on 12 August. Fortunately, there were no injuries, though the embankment it struck was damaged.
Vessel NAWATA BHUM, image credit: Ivan Meshkov
The vessel had departed Port Klang in Malaysia loaded with 483 containers and was headed to the Port of Kolkata. It failed to recover from a bend in the river at Diamond Harbour after sailing approximately 50 kilometres from the port.
The vessel's failure to turn is primarily attributed to strong currents and turbulent conditions in the region at the time. It is also suspected that the vessel lost steering ability after its steering gear jammed before it smashed into the riverbank.
The ship's master reportedly sounded the horn repeatedly to warn onlookers and any ferries that might have been in its path as it headed for a collision. Fortunately, no ferries were in the way.
The pilot immediately contacted the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority (SMPA) and reported the incident. SMPA pilots then boarded the vessel and guided it through the navigation channel.
As of the latest reports, the vessel remained grounded. Its hull is reportedly undamaged, and tugboats are awaiting high tide to pull it free.
The MV Nawata Bhum is a Singapore-flagged container vessel built in 2008. It has a length of 147.82 metres, a beam of 23.25 metres and a gross tonnage of 9,917.
