On Friday, a Maersk container ship, the Maersk Chattogram, collided with the feeder vessel HR Turag at the outer anchorage of Chattogram. The incident occurred around 9:30 AM as the Maersk Chattogram was approaching the pilot station, resulting in a significant gash in its starboard quarter. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, although images from the scene revealed extensive damage to the hull.
According to the crew, the damage was confined to the external hull, with the engine and steering gear remaining intact. The Maersk Chattogram is expected to unload its cargo in Chattogram before undergoing necessary repairs, as confirmed by Maersk’s local office. The incident has drawn the attention of Bangladesh’s shipping department and the port authority.
The HR Turag, a 1,000 TEU feeder vessel built in 1999, recently changed its flag to Bangladesh in 2023 and has not undergone any recorded port state control inspections since, suggesting it is primarily engaged in domestic or regional trade. In contrast, the Maersk Chattogram, a 2,700 TEU sub-panamax ship flagged in Singapore, has a history of minor inspection deficiencies over the past three years and was still moored at a container terminal in Chattogram as of Monday.
