Dhaka: A container vessel ran aground in the Chattogram port channel on Monday afternoon after a steering problem, port authorities said. The vessel, MV CNC Uranus, struck Red Buoy No. 2 near the entrance of the Karnaphuli River before becoming grounded against a retaining wall at around 2:30 p.m.

According to United News of Bangladesh, Chattogram Port Secretary Sayed Refayet Hamim stated that the accident occurred when the vessel suffered a steering gear malfunction while entering the port channel. “The ship hit Red Buoy No. 2 due to the steering failure and later became stuck against the retaining wall,” he said.

Two port tugboats, Kandari-4 and Kandari-11, have been deployed to safely refloat and remove the vessel from the channel. The Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast Guard are also working in coordination with the port authorities to ensure the safety and security of the navigation channel, the port secretary added.

The Chattogram Port Authority reported that the 170-metre-long container vessel, built in 2017, has a maximum draft of 9.5 metres and was carrying 1,282 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) of containers from Shekou Port in China. Despite the incident, vessel movement through the port channel remains normal, the port authority said.