Foreign vessel detained at Mongla port following importer’s lawsuit

A Panama-flagged foreign vessel, MV HTP Amber, has been detained at Mongla Port following a lawsuit filed by an importing company, port authorities confirmed on Thursday.

The vessel was detained under a court order issued in connection with a case filed by fertiliser importer Khan International Trading. However, the port’s harbour department said that regular unloading of cargo from the ship is continuing.

Sirajul Islam, General Manager of the ship’s Bangladeshi agent Cosmos Shipping Lines Limited, said the MV HTP Amber arrived at Mongla Port on December 27 after sailing from India’s Paradip Port on December 24, carrying 9,600 metric tonnes of fertiliser.

“The fertiliser was imported by Khan International Trading of Nawapara in Jashore. As the importer failed to unload the cargo within the stipulated time, the ship authorities filed a case under the Admiralty Suit (Maritime Law) 1/2026 at the High Court on January 8,” he said.

Following the lawsuit, Mongla Port Authority received a directive on January 9 to detain the vessel. The ship is currently anchored at Buoy No. 4 of the port’s B-Scrap area, he added.

Earlier, in 2023, a Liberia-flagged vessel MV Panagia Kanala, which had brought coal for the Rampal Power Plant, was also detained at Mongla Port following a High Court order.

JU/NSA