Eleven crew of a coal-laden vessel swam ashore after a crack developed in its bottom in the Pashur River on its way to Jashore from Mongla sea port in Bagerhat on Saturday morning.
Kazi Kamrul Islam, master of cargo vessel ‘MV Ishra Mahmud’, said the vessel sailed out for Jashore’s Naowapara after loading 950 metric tonnes of coal from a merchant vessel at the sea port on Friday evening.
When the vessel anchored in the Charkana area of the river 11 am, a crack developed in its bottom and water entered, he said.
Md Makruzzman, deputy director (public relations) of the Mongla Port Authority, said the coals are being shifted from the vessel to a barge.
Moreover, movement of vessels remained uninterrupted on the Pashur Channel, he added.