The MV Haian City, a foreign ship damaged in a collision while outbound from Chittagong Port with exports worth about Tk 8.0 billion, has been declared General Average after its berthing at a private dry-dock jetty to discharge the goods and undergo repairs.
General Average is reportedly a maritime law principle wherein the shipowner and cargo interests share the cost of recovery following a major casualty. This is a new development on the ill-fated vessel.
General Average is designed to spread risk by dividing up any costs incurred proportionately.
A notice issued on May 05 by Samudra Shipping, the local agent, says: "The ship owner, Haian Transport and Stevedoring Joint Stock Company declared the General Average and appointed the Marine Claims Office of Asia as GA adjusters."
On April 14, at 1042 hours, a collision between Haian City and Orion Express occurred near Chattogram. As a result of the accident, Haian City sustained severe damage to its shell plating and deck. It lost one or more containers overboard with some cracks developed on its deck because of the incident.
The Orion Express, an oil tanker, which collided with the container vessel, however, did not receive major hurt.
A salvage plan involving patching the vessel was put in place for it to reenter the Chattogram port as port of refuge. Prantik Salvage, a local company involved salvage operation, brought the vessel to Karnaphuli Dry Dock.
On May 04, the vessel berthed at the Dry Dock to discharge the goods and have repairs. Cargo will be required to discharge either fully or partially to repair the vessel.
People in the salvage operation told the FE correspondent that goods of 180 boxes could be damaged. They expect that some 10 days more will be required for repairing the vessel.
The vessel is, a container ship built in 2008 (14 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Vietnam, was carrying nearly 1200 TEUs of containers. Of the containers, around 700 TEUs were exportable goods. It sailed out for Chattogram on April 14.
Product-tanker Orion Express collided with container ship, Haian City, at around 0430 UTC time April 14 some 15 nm south of Chattogram. Both the ships, according to tracks and AIS records, were under way in Chittagong Anchorage area, proceeding opposite direction - container ship en route from Chittagong to Singapore while the tanker approaching Chittagong en route from Singapore.
