Bangladesh detains Indian ship

DHAKA - Bangladesh authorities have detained Indian ship MV Ocean Pearl after a court issued an “arrest order” over a suit claiming compensation for the alleged loss of cargo.

The ship has been detained at Patenga, 14 km south of the port city of Chittagong, the New Age reported Sunday.

A cargo supplier has sought a compensation of over Taka 190 million ( $27,000).

The ship has also been accused of leaking oil into the sea.

The vessel was detained after the arrest order was issued by the High Court.

The ship cannot depart from Chittagong port until the case is settled, a senior customs official said.

“The ship was scheduled to call at Mongla port to unload the cargo. But as the ship faced trouble after developing cracks, it made emergency beaching on Patenga coast. As it failed to reach the destination in time, some cargoe was damaged,” the official said.

The ship carried over 16,000 tonnes of fertiliser from China for theBangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation, officials said.

The department of environment in Chittagong Thursday served a show cause notice to Sigma Shipping Ltd, the local agent of the ship, for spilling oil along the coastline, officials said.