The owners of the 1,400 TEU container vessel, Haian City, which suffered an accident on 14 April, have declared general average, while the ship reached Karnaphuli dry dock for damages repair.
Due to the declaration of the general average, all stakeholders will proportionately share any losses incurred due to the incident.
The boxship was damaged severely and lost an empty box to the sea which is yet to be found even after nearly a month. Since then, the ship had been staying at the incident spot with the risk of sinking amid rough weather.
The vessel operator, Samudera Shipping Line, said that the ship owners, Hai An Transport and Stevedoring Joint Stock Company, declared general average (GA) on 28 April and appointed Marine Claims Office of Asia Pte Ltd as the general average adjusters.
“A salvage plan involving patching the vessel was put in place to re-enter the Chittagong Port as the port of refuge,” said Samudera, adding on 4 May that Haian City berthed at the Karnaphuli Dry Dock jetty to perform discharge operations for a temporary patch up and repair.
“Cargo will require discharging in part or in full to effect repairs, while salvage operations are ongoing subject to owners’ class approval for subsequent voyage completion,” noted the ship operator.
Haian City sustained severe damage to its shell plating and deck in way of cargo holds 4 and 5, according to a statement.
Golam Sarwar, the managing director of Prantik Bengal Salvage and Diving, which carried out salvage operation of the vessel, said that water entered into 180 boxes as those remained submerged for over 20 days since the collision.
After bringing the vessel to the Karnaphuli Dry Dock jetty, 148 20' containers were unloaded from the ship and damage repairing works are underway.
Sarwar added that nearly a month will be required for completion of the repairing and thereafter the vessel will be able to sail towards Singapore again after reloading the boxes already unloaded at the dry dock jetty.
Officials said the Vietnam-flagged feeder ship was carrying 1,156 TEU of which 661 boxes were packed with cargoes, mainly apparel, bound to Europe and the Americas. They fear that goods worth US$25 million may have destructed as they remained underwater for a long period.
Sharar Nayel
Asia Correspondent
