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Bulkcarrier still stuck on the beach

The "Crystal Gold" which brokoe lose from its moorings at Chattogram Port's outer anchorage and ran aground near Parki beachran aground at Chattogram's Parki Sea Beach in 2017 during cyclone Mora, is still there threatening the environment. Legal complications have stalled moving of the vessel to a shipbreaking yard in Sitakunda and the environment of the 13 km-long sea beach in Anwara upazila, a popular tourist spot, would surely be harmed if it was dismantled there. The Crystal Group as the owner of the bulk carrier was facing legal complications over bank loans and payment of crew members. The Four Star Corporation in October 2018 bought the ship. Unable to move the vessel, it took initiatives in December to dismantle the vessel on the beach but the Department of Environment (DoE) slapped it with a Tk 2 crore fine saying it had not taken the mandatory clearance and Four Star having started breaking up the ship without approval. After receiving a complaint, 1.5 acres of area were found polluted by the discharges of the ship. On January 15, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association filed a writ petition with the High Court against the dismantling of the ship mentioning possible environmental damage. A week later, the ministry of industries after inspecting the spot wrote to the DoE and Chattogram deputy commissioner to stop the ship breaking there as the beach was not a government authorised ship breaking zone and the ministry had not been informed about the dismantling process. On Feb 15, the DC's office told the DoE to take environment-friendly steps as per Bangladesh Ship Recycling Act-2018 for scrapping the vessel. An appeal of Four Star regarding the fine imposed on them was pending with the High Court. No decision can be taken until the court settles it. Opinions of all stakeholders including the ministry of industries will be considered before taking further steps. Actually ship-breaking workers living in a makeshift house erected on the spot. Some workers were awaiting nod from the High Court. Report with photo: https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/ran-aground-not-removed-2yrs-1719064

Scrapping of damaged bulkcarrier suspended

Scrapping of the "Crystal Gold" was suspended in Parky Char area, near Chittagong due to environmental issues on Jan 7, 2019. The local environment department has stopped the arbitrary cutting of the vessel until further notification. The buyer of the vessel sought permission to cut it up, but the authorities regretted on grounds of environmental pollution. The vessel was purchased by the Four Star Ship-breaking Yard after procuring it from an auction recently on the order of local court. The vessel ran aground near Parky sea beach after the cyclone Mora hit the coast on May 30, 2017. The firm allegedly fenced off the vessel without a permit and began dismantling it, leading to damage to the local ecology in an area not designated for shipbreaking. The environment officials said the higher court auctioned the vessel but did not order to scrap it without approval from the relevant authorities. There is a designated area for ship-breaking yards in Sitakunda coast and the yards must follow regulations for beaching and cutting scrap ships in an environmentally safe way. The ship was beached at Chittagong on Apr 13, 2018, after a collision with the "Go Skar" at Chittagong Outer Ancharoge on Dec 29, 2015. At Jetty No 6 in Chittagong it discharged its cargo after the accident and did not sail again. The department issued a notice to Four Star Enterprise compelling the firm to appear in a hearing on Jan 7 and fined the company 240,000 USD after the proceedings.

attach by High Court

Attach by Chittagong High Court: 17/02/15