The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

Whereabouts of Chief Engineer (CE) of the sunken Sri Lankan vessel Aung Khian was unknown even after 36 hours of the incident.

Officials suspected that the 52-year-old Khian might have been trapped in the engine room. His body may be found after recovering the wreckage.

The two-member probe body comprising - Captain Jashim Uddin and Assistant Harbour Master Rahmat Ullah - has started its work yesterday morning. They are looking for the causes of incident, secretary of the CPA Farhad Syed Uddin Ahmed said.

Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) on Thursday alerted the vessels now in the jetty and the outer anchorage to take safe sailing avoiding the point of accident and stay in touch with the radio control. Harbormasters and the captains of the vessels have been advised to follow the guide light and buoy placed around the accident spot, sources at port radio control said.

Tugboat 'Kandari' has also been deployed at the spot to watch shipping traffic in the zone as port authorities initiated salvage operations for the Badula Valley.

Preparations are on to mount search and salvation operations, comprising port agencies as well as private rescue and salvation agencies, according to port officials.

A letter would be sent to the concerned shipping agent claiming accident compensation and rescue expenses to be incurred.

Earlier, a Sri Lankan bulk vessel laden with 3609 metric tons of rice went down in the Bay after colliding head-on with an oil tanker on Wednesday afternoon.