According to Indian media reports, officials involved in the salvage operation near the Sundarbans and the maritime border line between India and Bangladesh said Wednesday that the ship had begun sinking.
The ship is in shallow waters off the coast of India. But a number of containers had fallen from the ship and were floating in the area, posing a danger to other vessels. An additional concern is the nearly 211 tonnes of heavy fuel oil in the vessel’s tanks. According to The Times of India, the Kolkata also is carrying nearly 200 tonnes of other oil.
Efforts to remove the fuel and other oil were thwarted because of ensuing explosions and fires, The Times of India said.
An Indian Coast Guard official told The Telegraph on Thursday that a crack in the upper deck has widened and the ship has tilted about 35 degrees to the right.
“Now water and sand are entering the ship during high tide, damaging it further,” that official said.
The ship was off Sagar Island, near the entrance to the Sundarbans, an ecologically sensitive network of mangrove forests and home to one of the largest single populations of Bengal tigers.
The vessel reportedly was carrying 464 containers when the fire broke out. According to media reports, up to 70 percent of the ship’s cargo deck was aflame at one point. All 22 crew members, however, were safely evacuated by the Indian Coast Guard.
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now