Damaged Bangladesh fertilizer carrier rescued by Russian authorities near Ust-Luga port

A Russian salvage operation successfully recovered the Bangladeshi-flagged bulk carrier, Meghna Princess, laden with fertilizer cargo near the Baltic Sea’s Ust-Luga seaport. The vessel encountered difficulties on December 29 after a GPS jammer inadvertently threw it off course, resulting in a collision with an underwater rock formation.

The Meghna Princess sustained considerable damage to its hull and propeller, leading to water ingress in parts of the vessel. The Baltic branch of the Marine Rescue Service mounted rescue efforts, which prevented the ship from grounding and successfully refloated it.

The President of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ Association (BMMOA), Captain Md Anam Chowdhury, outlined the next steps for the distressed vessel. The Meghna Princess will offload some of its cargo and undergo a thorough underwater inspection and survey before being moved to a dry dock for extensive repairs.

Before the incident, the vessel had loaded 25,000 tonnes of fertilizer in St. Petersburg. It was en route to Ust-Luga to collect an additional 25,000 tonnes when the mishap occurred. Following the rescue, approximately 2,300 tons of mineral fertilizers were safely unloaded during the operation. The rescue fleet included several specialty vessels, a specialized hydrographic group, a diving station, and rescuers from the regional branch of the Baltic Marine Rescue Service. No oil spill has been reported in the area during the rescue operations.

The Meghna Princess is slated for a full inspection to verify its structural integrity before it is returned to its owner. Details regarding the owner of the fertilizer cargo were kept undisclosed from the media.