Crane breaks off of BIWTA salvage vessel and sinks in Barishal

A section of the crane on the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) rescue vessel 'Nirbhik', anchored in the Kirtankhola River, has broken off.

The incident occurred around 9:30 AM on Wednesday (November 11) at the BIWTA jetty on the Kirtankhola River, near Muktijoddha Park in Barishal city.

According to those involved, the crane broke due to a technical fault. Sources indicate that the crane on the rescue vessel 'Nirbhik' was being operated on Wednesday morning as part of a routine weekly drill and cleaning process. Shortly after operations began at 9:30 AM, a section of the crane suddenly collapsed due to a mechanical or technical failure.

Upon receiving the news, senior BIWTA officials immediately rushed to the scene.

Md. Alamgir Hossain, the master of the rescue vessel 'Nirbhik', stated that the work was being carried out as it is every week. He noted that they are unsure how the technical fault occurred while the crane was being slowly lowered.

He added that one crew member lost consciousness due to shock during the incident, but is now in good health.

Abdullah Al Baki, commander of the 'Nirbhik', stated that authorities have already initiated efforts to recover the collapsed section of the crane.

To this end, another BIWTA rescue vessel, 'Pratyay', has departed from Narayanganj, heading toward Barishal.

Meanwhile, Selim Mia, Assistant Director of the Barishal Fire Service, confirmed that fire service personnel visited the site. There were no casualties. The collapse of the crane caused some damage to a barge at the BIWTA dredger base. An assessment is currently underway to determine the full extent of the damage.

Additionally, Barishal Deputy Commissioner Md. Mamun Khandaker visited the site upon learning of the incident. He stated that both the district administration and the BIWTA will form separate committees to investigate the matter. Further details will be available once the report is received.

It is understood that in 2013, the salvage vessel 'Nirbhik' was relocated to a BIWTA (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority) jetty on the banks of the Kirtankhola River in Barishal. The vessel has a lifting capacity of 250 tonnes and is typically deployed only in the event of a major accident.

-    NS