Lighter vessel capsizes in Bay near Chittagong port

A lighter vessel carrying scrap goods capsized in the Bay of Bengal near Chittagong port on Thursday.

The accident took place at 12pm in Patenga beach area when the vessel, MV Titu-7, was headed to the Banglabazar Ghat at the Karnaphuli Riverbank from the outer harbour of Chittagong port.

Thirteen sailors on board abandoned ship and swam to a nearby boat to save their lives.

Nabi Alam, vice president of Lighter Vessel Workers Union said that a lighter vessel owned by Abul Khair Group was returning to Karnafuli harbor with 1,000 metric tonnes of scrap goods.

"The vessel's engine broke down and it sank in the sea. However, the sailors were rescued alive as there was a boat nearby," Nabi Alam said.

The rescued sailors are in good health, he added.