MV Abhijan-10 Fire: Case Filed Against Shipowners, Second-Master, And Others

The Department of Shipping filed a case Sunday against MV Abhijan-10 owners, drivers, and the vessel’s launch masters following a probe committee’s confirmation that a fault in the engine was the cause of the fire on the vessel.

Md Shafiqur Rahman, the Chief Inspector, filed a case under the Inland Shipping Ordinance against owners of Messer’s Al Araf & Company, the launch company. Those mentioned in the case file are Md Shamim Ahmed, Hamzalal Sheikh, Ferdous Hasan Rabbi, and Md Russell Ahmed; the launch in-charge Md Riaz Sikder; Md Khalilur Rahman – the Second Master; and also against drivers Md Masum Billah and Abul Kalam.

The case statement stated that there was an absence of adequate lifebuoys, fire extinguishers, sandboxes, and even buckets. It also mentioned that there were several drums loaded with diesel and cylinder gas cookers against what is permitted by ISO act sections 56, 66, 69, and 70.

Image Credits: Probe Body

The charges had been filed following an investigation report submitted by the Barishal inspector of the shipping department. It is also expected that a supplementary case will be filed when the probe body investigating the incident submits the report.

Sources have reportedly mentioned that the launch’s registration, master driver’s certificate, and fitness certificate would be suspended per law.

Joynab Begum who is the Special Metropolitan Magistrate of the Marine Court has issued an arrest warrant against eight people, including the owners of the launch after a case had already been filed for the incident Sunday.

Yet another case had been filed at Barguna Judge Court against 25 individuals reportedly accused by Nazmul Islam, the chair of, Baliatoli Union.

The court has asked the officer-in-charge at the Barguna Sadar police station to register the case. A case of unnatural death was filed at the Jhalakathi police station over the incident that has left 42 dead men so far.

The committee has worked on recording accounts from relatives of eyewitnesses and victims at Barguna Circuit House. The number of those missing has risen to 44 per information by the Jhalakathi and Barguna district administrations.

Reference: tbsnews.net

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Source: Maritime Shipping News