Two foreign commercial vessels collided at Chattogram port’s outer anchorage at about 2 pm on Friday. The Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Sunshine, carrying 52,000 tonnes of wheat for a private importer, was anchored when the Sea Spike tanker struck it while moving to anchor. Sea Spike was carrying 33,000 tonnes of gas oil, or diesel, for the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation.

The collision damaged part of Sunshine’s hull, and water began entering its engine room. Port pilots, the rescue tug Kandari-8 and a Coast Guard rescue team were sent to the site. They were working to pump water from the vessel and bring the situation under control.

Port Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim said a powerful port tugboat, Bangladesh Navy personnel and Coast Guard teams had been deployed, with necessary measures underway. Questions were raised over the use of a hired bay pilot rather than a port pilot for Sea Spike, but its local agent Pride Shipping denied wrongdoing, saying port pilots are not mandatory for vessels at the outer anchorage. The cause of the accident and the extent of damage to both vessels were not immediately confirmed and are being examined.