Vessel chartered from abroad as back-to-back fires on oil tankers raise concern

The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has chartered a vessel from abroad to transport crude oil from mother vessels to the Eastern Refinery, as back-to-back fires on its two oil tankers have raised concerns over the safety of Chattogram Port.

Early today (5 October), a fire on the MT Banglar Shourabh left a man killed, and three people died following an explosion aboard the MT Banglar Jyoti on 30 September. 

As the state-owned BSC has launched an investigation into the possibility of sabotage, Commodore Mahmudul Malek, managing director of the corporation, suspects these incidents may be aimed at undermining the country's energy security.

At a press conference today, he said, "A preliminary investigation revealed that fires broke out simultaneously at four locations on the MV Banglar Shourabh. Since the fire did not arise from gas formation or any natural cause, and a speedboat passed by at the time, we suspect it may have been sabotage."

He added, "These back-to-back fires pose a threat to the nation's energy security. A vested group may have orchestrated this to destabilise the country. A committee, led by BSC Executive Director Mohammad Yusuf, has been formed to identify those responsible for the fires."

As the BSC or any private company lacks suitable ships, the corporation has finalised a vessel charter process to transport crude oil from the mother vessels to the Eastern Refinery.

Commodore Malek stated that they began the process of chartering a vessel following the first fire incident, as both of their vessels are 37 years old.

"Since both ships will no longer transport oil, we have chartered a vessel with a capacity of 30,000 tonnes from abroad, expected to arrive on Sunday and will transport oil within two days," he said, without disclosing the further details.

"Transporting oil with domestic ships keeps money in the country. However, using a chartered vessel will result in currency flowing abroad. This arrangement will continue until the commissioning of BPC's Single Point Mooring project." 

Asked if transporting oil with a chartered vessel would take longer, Malek explained that while the Jyoti and Saurav can hold 30,000 tonnes, they never transported more than 10,000 tonnes. A chartered vessel can carry more than double that amount, potentially resulting in a shorter transportation time.

Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Shakhawat Hossain will visit Chattogram for three days starting 6 October to inspect the port. During his visit, he will engage with various stakeholders and tour key facilities, including the port, ongoing projects, and the submarine base.

Risk of a catastrophic disaster   

Aside from the BSC, other stakeholders at the port and local businessmen have expressed concerns after the fire incidents, noting the lack of a well-equipped fire station from the Bay of Bengal estuary to Chattogram Port. This raises the risk of a catastrophic disaster in the event of a major fire.

Firefighters from Karnaphuli, Export Processing Zone, and Bandar fire stations must respond to fires in these critical areas, they said, also questioning the security of fuel oil transportation and storage in Chattogram.

Near Chattogram Port, along the banks of the Karnaphuli River, are key facilities such as Eastern Refinery, the Naval Base, and depots belonging to Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna oil companies, as well as the TSP Complex, Standard Asiatic Oil Company, and LP Gas Company Limited. These facilities manage various hazardous materials and include 18 private depots.

Businessmen stressed the need for tighter security and fire safety measures, as Chattogram Port is not only the country's commercial lifeline but also strategically important.

They believe that since the fall of the Hasina government amid mass uprising, various sectors have descended into chaos. Labour unrest has been reported in industries like the garment sector, and they suspect these disruptions are orchestrated.

Mohammed Amirul Haque, chairman of Seacom Group, told The Business Standard, "Free movement of people is undesirable near oil refineries like Eastern Refinery and other KPIs (Key Points installations). Airports and private depots have been established one after another, along with nearby tunnels."

He emphasised that no country permits such facilities to exist close to oil refineries, as it complicates predictions of the catastrophic consequences of a major fire. Therefore, relocating various establishments away from the oil refinery area is crucial.

"Historically, the formation of inquiry committees into sabotage has been a mere facade. Although sabotage incidents have repeatedly occurred across Bangladesh, proper investigations have failed to identify those responsible," Amirul Haque stated.

He noted that while intelligence and law enforcement agencies attempt to find culprits independently, they often neglect to involve investigation committees.

"Hopefully, this time will be different. All anarchists and conspirators must be prosecuted. Intelligence and law enforcement agencies must track down those involved in the burning of these two BSC tanker vessels and bring them to justice," he concluded.

Major Md Wahidul Haque, Director (Security and Operations) at Chattogram Port, told TBS that the recent fires on the two tankers are completely unacceptable.

He noted that security measures at the port have been strengthened, with security alerts raised. Two tugboats have been acquired for fire safety, and other organisations, including the Navy, have established their own fire safety management systems.

According to the BSC, the MV Banglar Saurav was carrying 11,055 tonnes of oil and had 48 employees on board, including 42 crew members.

A steward named Sadek Mia from Noakhali died from injuries sustained in the fire, which broke out around 12:50am on Saturday.

It took four hours for the Coast Guard, Navy, and Chattogram Port Authority to control the blaze. Fortunately, 47 employees were rescued unharmed, including one crew member who jumped into the sea to escape.

According to information from related organisations, including the fire service, a fire broke out in the pump house of the state-owned Jamuna Petroleum Company in the early hours of 11 June.

Prompt action by workers prevented the fire from spreading. A previous fire incident occurred at the Jamuna Oil depot in Chattogram on 28 February 2014.

Abdul Malek, assistant director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate in the Chattogram region, stated that there is no fire station in Patenga, and support comes from the Karnaphuli, EPZ, and Bandar fire stations.

He warned that if a fire were to break out at the government fuel oil depots in Guptakhal, Patenga, it would be impossible to extinguish it using conventional methods, potentially causing extensive damage. He also noted that each oil company – Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna – has its own separate firefighting system.