50 crew in distress with two Bangladeshi ships trapped in foreign ports for months

Fifty Bangladeshi sailors remain stranded in two far-flung foreign ports, grappling with dwindling food and water supplies as their ships have been stuck for months due to mishaps and subsequent legal issues.

Both are cargo vessels owned by Meghna Group, which operates a fleet of 25 oceangoing ships out of the 103 Bangladesh national flag carriers.

One of them, Meghna Princess, met with an accident on 29 December after being thrown off course by a GPS jammer. It struck an underwater rock near Russia's Ust-Luga port in the Baltic Sea, resulting in damage to its hull and propeller and causing parts of the vessel to flood.

Meanwhile, the other ship, Meghna Prestige, has been stranded at Venezuela's Puerto Ordaz port since 29 January due to legal complications, with its captain still in police custody.

Captain Md Anam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers' Association (BMMOA), told TBS that the sailors on both vessels were running low on drinking water and food.

Being stuck on stationary ships for an extended period has also taken a mental toll on the crew, while their families remain in distress, he said.

When contacted, Commodore Mohammad Maksud Alam, director general of the Department of Shipping, said the situation will be resolved soon as all-out efforts are underway to bring back both ships and their crew home.

Regarding the food and water shortage, he said, "Both ships are in or near a port, so there should be no shortage of supplies. These should be available for purchase if payments are made."

However, experts say salvaging and repairing the damaged Meghna Princess will take at least three months. On the other hand, resolving the legal complications that have trapped Meghna Prestige can take anywhere from six to eight months.

In 2019, a Bangladeshi ship was stranded in Guinea for around eight months due to similar legal issues.

In a separate incident, MV Abdullah, a ship owned by KSRM Group's SR Shipping, one of Bangladesh's leading shipping companies, was hijacked by Somali pirates in March 2024. After being released following a ransom payment, the ship returned to Bangladesh approximately two months later.

What happened to Meghna Princess in the Baltic Sea? 

After loading 25,000 tonnes of fertiliser in St Petersburg, the ship with 25 sailors on board was heading to the Russian port of Ust-Luga to load another 25,000 tonnes of cargo when it was diverted from its course on 29 December last year due to a GPS jammer.

The vessel struck a rocky seabed, significantly damaging its hull and propeller and allowing water to flood several of its tanks.

Despite repeated pleas for assistance, the Russian port authorities did not respond for a week, according to the BMMOA. Its sailors have reportedly been suffering from shortages of food and water.

BMMOA President Anam Chowdhury said, "Despite notifying the local authorities, we got no response. The crew found cracks in the hull and water in some tanks, though the cargo remained intact."

He added, "A diving team confirmed a week later that the ship was stuck on a rock, with the propeller damaged. Once the cargo is unloaded and the ship floats, it will need towing for repairs, which will take significant time."

Quoting the ship's Chief Officer, Mozaharul Haque, Captain Anam said the crew has been without fresh water for two months, relying on melted snow for drinking water. The crew is growing restless.

After months of efforts and lobbying by the BMMOA, the International Transport Workers' Union (ITF) and Meghna Group, a Russian salvage company was hired last week to recover the ship. Captain Anam confirmed that the salvage operation has started, with repairs expected to follow shortly.

How did Meghna Prestige get entangled in legal issues? 

The Meghna Prestige, a bulk carrier with 25 sailors on board, has been stuck in the port of Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, since 29 January, owing to legal issues.

The ship's captain was detained by local police after a diver was fatally struck by the propeller during an underwater inspection before the ship's departure. A Venezuelan court ordered the captain's detention for 45 days till the investigation into the incident ends.

Although the ship has enough food supplies for the next 10-15 days, it is facing a water shortage.

To resolve the legal complications, the shipowners' P&I Club and the owner's representatives have appointed two lawyers, and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is also assisting, according to the BMMOA's Anam Chowdhury.

The ship's Captain Mahbubur Rahman, speaking to TBS over the phone from his detention in Tucupita, Venezuela, said, "On 12 January, Meghna Prestige arrived at Boca Grande anchorage, Venezuela, to load iron ore. The loading was completed on 29 January."

He continued, "Under local regulations, an underwater inspection is mandatory before leaving port. On the 29th, the Anti-drug Authority and diving team arrived, and I had a meeting with them. Since the diving team leader didn't speak English, the boarding agent acted as an interpreter.

"Before the inspection began, some routine tasks were pending, but the diving team proceeded anyway. Meanwhile, the ship began drifting due to the wind, and the duty officer had to briefly start the engine, which led to the accident."

The captain said, "Later that afternoon, I was taken to the police station, where a case was filed against me the following day. I've been kept in a room near the station and living in very inhumane conditions since then. Our company has appointed two lawyers to handle the case."

The owner has assigned a new captain to the ship, but with only 10-15 days of food remaining, there is still a water shortage, detained Captain Mahbubur added.

Anam Chowdhury said upon learning of the situation of Meghna Prestige, the BMMOA contacted the IMO and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), which are now working to resolve the issue on an international level.

He added, "The situation with the ship in Russia is worse due to the cold weather. The sailors are enduring inhumane conditions with shortages of food and water. While the Meghna Group is working to resolve the issue, the Ministry of Shipping must play a more active role in addressing the situation."

Diplomatic efforts underway 

Commodore Mohammad Maksud Alam, DG of the Department of Shipping, told TBS, "The government has taken necessary steps. Our foreign ministry has reached out to Venezuela's chief legal officer to facilitate the release of the ship and its captain. We expect a resolution soon."

Regarding the ship stranded in Russia, he said, "A salvage company has already begun operations to rescue the vessel. It will be taken to a dockyard for crack repairs."

A top official of Meghna Group's shipping company told TBS, "We are working tirelessly round the clock to rescue both ships. It is difficult to provide further details at this time."