A Singapore-registered container ship, Nawata Bhum, collided with a river embankment along the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India, while heading to Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata on August 12. Social media footage shows the vessel approaching the riverbank without altering its course or slowing down, despite its horn sounding repeatedly. The ship’s bow became lodged in the embankment, and at the time of the incident, there were no other vessels nearby, and the road along the embankment appeared deserted, with only minor damage to vegetation.
Following the collision, the Nawata Bhum remained aground near Diamond Harbour until approximately 10:30 PM, when tugboats successfully pulled it free. As of 10:20 AM the next day, two tugboats were still attached to the ship, which was listed as “at anchor” according to its automatic identification system (AIS). Local reports suggested that the vessel lost steerage due to a jammed steering system.
AsiaOne has reached out to the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority for updates on the crew’s status and the ship’s condition. Additionally, inquiries have been made to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore regarding potential follow-up actions. The Ministry of Transport’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau has also been contacted to confirm if an independent marine safety investigation will take place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
