A Maltese-flagged container ship MV CNC Uranus was successfully rescued and moved to the 'B' (Bravo) anchorage after running aground in the Karnaphuli River channel. An intensive overnight operation ensured zero disruption to Chittagong Port which manages 92 percent of Bangladesh's international trade.
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Secretary Syed Refaet Hamim confirmed the successful rescue on Tuesday morning stating "The port channel is fully operational and safe and normal port activities are continuing uninterrupted."
The crisis began around 2:15 p.m. on Monday. The 170-meter vessel arriving from Shikou, China, suffered a sudden steering failure. Carrying 1,282 TEUs of cargo and 24 crew members, the ship lost control, struck red buoy number 2 and grounded against the river mouth's retaining wall.
A rapid, coordinated emergency response was immediately launched. The CPA deployed four Kandari tugboats joined by the Bangladesh Navy's Shibsa the Coast Guard's Promatta and a tunnel tugboat. The combined rescue team worked relentlessly through the night. While emergency preparations were made to unload containers to reduce the ship’s 9.50-meter draft the combined fleet successfully freed the vessel without needing to do so.
No casualties or cargo damages were reported. The CPA commended the pilots tug crews Navy and Coast Guard for their high professionalism. The swift resolution highlights Chittagong Port's robust emergency preparedness in safeguarding the nation's vital supply chains.
