Two container vessels arrested in Chittagong

Two container vessels were arrested in Chittagong port today (22 March) by the admiralty court as a jute exporter filed cases against them, failing to secure money from his buyer against shipments.

The vessels are Liberia-flagged San Alfonso and Marshall Islands-flagged Celsius Nelson, which are now anchored at the outer anchorage of the Chittagong port after being arrested.

Razzaque Jute Industries, a Bangladesh-based exporter, had filed the cases against the two vessels on 21 March and the admiralty country issued an arrest warrant against them as they were residing in Bangladesh’s territorial water.

The 1,577 TEU Celsius Nelson is being operated by Singapore-based Feedertech. An official of the Crown Navigation Co., the local agent of Feedertech, said the vessel came to Bangladesh water on 22 March, will take berth on 23 March to unload the boxes, and will remain arrested until further order comes from the court.

The vessel is now carrying 1,050 TEU import containers. “We could learn about the arrest warrant today morning at berth meeting in Chittagong port,” said the official, adding, “The charterer will incur a huge financial loss if the vessel remains idle for days.”

San Alfonso is now carrying nearly 1,000 TEU outbound boxes and is operated by Transworld Feeders. A senior official of Karnaphuli Group, the local agent of Transworld Feeders, said the vessel has no connection with the failure of realisation of money from the buyer by the exporter.

“The exporters will suffer and their shipment will miss mother vessels due to the unnecessary arrest of San Alfonso,” he pointed out.