CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, Oct 18, 2025 – A lighterage ship named MV Zayan partially sank near the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Karnaphuli River after reporting steering and engine failure late Friday. The vessel was carrying approximately 1,200 tons of ball clay — a raw material used in the ceramic industry — destined for Dhaka.
Officials from the Chattogram Port Authority said the ship sank close to Patenga Beach near the Bangladesh Naval Academy while being towed toward shore early Saturday. Despite the incident, the port authority maintained that navigation and vessel movement through the main channel were not impeded.
According to the port secretary, Omar Faruk, all 13 crew members aboard escaped unharmed. He confirmed the cargo — loaded at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port — was lost after seawater entered the vessel’s holds.
Ship-owner operations officer Kazi Mohammad Shiblu of Zayan Shipping Lines said the vessel’s steering first failed around 8 p.m. on Friday, followed by an engine breakdown. The ship was held stationary overnight, but during the towing process on Saturday morning it ran aground and its hull breached, leading to rapid flooding.
Union officials reported that once the vessel grounded near the Naval Academy area its bottom began to rupture. Water entered via three hatches, and by the time responders arrived, roughly 90 percent of the vessel had submerged.
Impact on port operations and trade
While port authorities assert that the incident has not disrupted movement in the channel, the sinking raises concerns about environmental and logistical risks. Ball clay is a bulk commodity used extensively by Bangladesh’s ceramic manufacturing sector, and the loss of the full cargo is a blow to the supply chain.
The location of the wreck — close to the outer anchorage but outside the main navigation channel — may limit immediate commercial disruption. However, authorities have ordered the owner to evacuate the vessel and assess salvage and removal operations.
Safety and regulatory implications
Previous incidents in Bangladesh’s crowded waterways underscore the risks of mechanical failure or grounding in heavily trafficked estuaries. Analysts note that lighterage vessels — small craft used to transfer cargoes between deep-water ships and shore facilities — operate under particular constraints of draft, stability and tidal conditions.
The port authority has yet to publicly announce whether an official investigation will be launched, although standard procedure in such cases would include assessment of the vessel’s maintenance record, towing decision-making and environmental safeguards.
Environmental and industrial considerations
Though not an oil tanker, the sinking of a vessel loaded with 1,200 tons of clay poses environmental questions — particularly in a sensitive marine estuary at the intersection of the Bay of Bengal and the Karnaphuli River. Clay spillage may affect sediment dynamics and water quality; hull rupture and debris can pose navigational hazards.
For the ceramic industry, Bangladesh relies on imported raw materials to fuel its growing production capacity, meaning such a loss may ripple through supply chains and raise input costs.
Outlook
Recovery efforts will likely centre on immediate crew safety, salvage of the wreck, and environmental assessment of the submerged cargo. Authorities may impose stricter inspections on local lighterage operations in response — particularly where vital industrial supply chains are at stake.
As Bangladesh’s maritime trade continues to expand, the incident emphasises the need for robust maintenance, contingency procedures and environmental safeguards in port-related operations.
