The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

A Sri Lankan bulk vessel laden with 9.6 thousand metric tons of rice went down in the bay after colliding an oil tanker head-on yesterday afternoon.

Sources at the radio control of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) admitted the incident and said that three rescue boats brought 16 crew and officers of the sunken vessel back to shore safely while Chief Engineer of the vessel had been missing till the time of dispatching this report.

Informed sources said that the collision took place between rice-laden MV Badulu Valley and MT Hun Geu near the outer anchorage at about 1:20 p.m. The rice-laden vessel was been moving to the jetty while the tanker on the anchor.

Captain of the sunken vessel aired SOS (save our soul). Responding to the call three rescue-vessels of the CPA Dishari-2, Dishari-8 and Kandari-10 rushed there and rescued 16 of the crew and officers.

The sunken vessel sailed from Kakinada port in Orrisya, India on August 17 and supposed to take berth at Chittagong port yesterday.

Though the oil tanker suffered physical damage following the collision, it fortunately did not catch fire as it's hatch had been empty.