On August 12, local time, a container vessel was involved in an incident on the Hooghly River near Diamond Harbour in West Bengal, India. The vessel failed to complete a turn while navigating a bend in the river, subsequently leaving the channel and striking the riverbank. No injuries have been reported in the Hooghly River incident. The vessel was successfully refloated that evening and is currently at anchor.

Key Highlights

• Vessel identified as Nawata Bhum: The Singapore-flagged container vessel was built in 2008 and bears IMO number 9365685.

• Carrying 483 containers: The vessel was sailing from Port Klang, Malaysia, to Kolkata, India, before the incident.

• Incident occurs on the Hooghly River: The vessel left the channel and struck the riverbank while navigating a bend.

• Vessel refloated that evening: Tugboats assisted the vessel off the riverbank at high tide at approximately 10:30 p.m. It is currently at anchor.

• Potential impact on port operations requires monitoring: Any effects on sailing schedules, river traffic, and cargo transportation through eastern Indian ports remain to be seen.

Nawata Bhum Was Carrying 483 Containers to Kolkata

The vessel involved was Nawata Bhum, a Singapore-flagged container vessel measuring approximately 147.8 meters in length and 23.3 meters in width. It was built in 2008 and bears IMO number 9365685. Publicly available information indicates that the vessel is part of the RCL fleet and is operated by a company affiliated with Regional Container Lines.

Before the incident, the vessel had departed Port Klang, Malaysia, carrying 483 containers bound for Kolkata, India. By the time it reached the area near Diamond Harbour, it had travelled approximately 50 kilometers along the Hooghly River. The vessel then failed to complete a turn at a bend in the river and struck the riverbank.

Suspected Steering Gear Failure Remains Under Investigation

Available information indicates that currents were strong at the time of the incident and that navigation conditions on the river were challenging. Other reports suggest that the vessel’s steering gear may have jammed before it struck the riverbank, affecting its ability to turn.

After realizing that the vessel might have lost normal steering control, the master reportedly sounded the horn repeatedly to warn people and other vessels in the area. No ferry was in the vessel’s path at the time, and no further collision occurred.

The specific cause of the incident remains under investigation. It is too early to attribute the incident to any single factor.

Vessel Refloated and Currently at Anchor

Following the incident, the pilot onboard immediately reported the situation to the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority (SMPA), after which the relevant authorities responded.

According to the latest available information, Nawata Bhum was successfully refloated with tug assistance at high tide at approximately 10:30 p.m. on August 12. It was then escorted by tugboats to an anchorage near Diamond Harbour. The vessel is now clear of the riverbank, and its AIS status shows it at anchor. No injuries have been reported, and no obvious hull damage has been identified at this stage.

Possible Impact on Kolkata Port Operations

The Hooghly River is an important shipping waterway in eastern India, and the Port of Kolkata is located along the river. Some vessels entering and leaving the port must navigate the affected section of the waterway. Compared with open waters, bends in the river, tidal conditions, and changing currents can make vessel maneuvering more difficult.

As the vessel has been refloated, any further impact on port navigation will depend on the findings of the on-site investigation and subsequent vessel scheduling. Freight forwarders handling cargo through eastern Indian ports should continue to monitor vessel movements, port notices, and updated sailing schedules.

If temporary navigation restrictions or vessel scheduling adjustments are introduced, the arrival times of some shipments may be affected. Freight forwarders should therefore continue to monitor the risk of schedule delays at eastern Indian ports.

Sources

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, MarineTraffic, Reuters, and publicly available vessel and port information 

Disclaimer

This article has been compiled from publicly available information and is intended solely for reference within the international logistics industry. For the cause of the incident, vessel status, and subsequent service arrangements, please refer to the latest information issued by the carrier, port, and relevant authorities.