Discover the Captain-Nikolas: Ratings & Maritime News

On April 11, 2025, the tanker 'Captain Nikolas' was detained at Chattogram as a result of a directive from a Bangladesh court. This significant legal development follows a fire incident that occurred at the port on October 16, 2024, around 12:45 a.m., during an LPG transfer operation involving the tanker 'B-LPG Sophia' (IMO: 9175846). While the flames on 'Captain Nikolas' were controlled by 3:30 a.m., the fire on the 'B-LPG Sophia' persisted for an additional 12 hours, ultimately leading to its being deemed irreparable and subsequently dismantled in Chittagong. The LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh raised concerns regarding the unclear origin of the LPG cargo carried by 'B-LPG Sophia', suggesting that its provenance may have been misrepresented in the records. An investigation into potential sanctions violations linked to the vessel is also underway. Since the fire, 'Captain Nikolas' has remained anchored in Chattogram, stuck in legal turmoil while still holding approximately 34,000 tons of cargo. The detention is the result of two distinct admiralty lawsuits initiated against the ship. The first suit was brought by Atlantis Gas DMCC, the owner of the 'B-LPG Sophia', which resulted in an arrest warrant being issued on April 9. A second admiralty suit from Xenon Energy DMCC, a company based in the UAE, led to a separate warrant against the tanker on April 10. Consequently, the 'Captain Nikolas' was officially seized on April 11. In the face of these legal challenges, the owner of the 'Captain Nikolas' has engaged legal counsel to dispute the lawsuits and is actively seeking the vessel's release.

In a troubling trend, Chittagong's port community is raising alarms following three ship fires that transpired within just a two-week span. This surge in maritime incidents has sparked critical questions regarding local firefighting capabilities and the wisdom of permitting the importation of sanctioned energy shipments aboard questionable vessels. A particularly drastic fire event unfolded aboard the 'B LPG Sophia' and 'Captain Nikolas' during an alleged illegal ship-to-ship transfer near Kutubdia, Chittagong. While transferring its cargo, the 'Captain Nikolas' ignited flames that quickly spread between the two ships. Miraculously, all 31 crew members escaped unscathed; however, the lighter tanker suffered extensive damage. The LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) has raised serious allegations, asserting that the cargo aboard 'Captain Nikolas' was misrepresented and actually sourced from Iran, a country under international sanctions. They further contend that customs officials may have colluded in this covert import operation, which allegedly included at least one more vessel transporting sanctioned Iranian LPG. Investigations suggest that the 'Captain Nikolas' may have taken on a cargo of sanctioned Iranian LNG in the Persian Gulf, with two sister ships reportedly engaged in similar activities. On October 15, Bangladesh's shipping ministry issued a stern circular, urging importers to strictly adhere to regulations surrounding sanctioned vessels and cargo. The ministry emphasized the necessity for compliance with U.S., UN, and EU sanctions, highlighting that non-compliance could expose Bangladesh to significant national security and reputational risks. Strict policies now forbid any activities related to loading, unloading, or transshipping sanctioned cargoes within Bangladeshi waters. This incident involving the two LPG tankers marks just one of three significant vessel fires near Chittagong in recent weeks. Earlier, a fire aboard the 'Banglar Shourabh' on October 4 led to the tragic loss of one crew member, while another blaze on the 'Banglar Jyoti' on September 30 resulted in three fatalities. These alarming statistics have intensified calls for enhanced firefighting resources within Chittagong, as the port currently lacks dedicated firefighting vessels equipped to manage petroleum-related blazes.

On October 13 at approximately 12:45 a.m., a significant fire erupted on two LPG carriers, 'Captain Nikolas' and 'B-LPG Sophia', while they were engaged in cargo transfer operations off the coast of Bangladesh, specifically near Kutubdia, Chattogram. In response to this incident, the Chittagong Port Authority has initiated an investigative committee tasked with delivering a report within one week. The Bangladesh Coast Guard and Navy swiftly acted by deploying seven vessels to assist in combating the flames. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze on the 'Captain Nikolas' by around 03:30 a.m., but the fire on the 'B-LPG Sophia' persisted until approximately 12:30 p.m. Throughout the response, teams from the Navy and Coast Guard remained vigilant, monitoring both vessels to avert the risk of re-ignition. In the emergency's chaotic moments, 31 crew members from both ships leapt into the water, where they were promptly rescued without any serious injuries. Among those rescued were eight locally hired personnel from the 'Captain Nikolas'. Adding a layer of complexity, reports surfaced alleging that the cargo aboard the 'Captain Nikolas' had been misdeclared and was sourced from Iran, a nation currently facing sanctions. However, Mohd Omar Faruk, Secretary of the Chittagong Port Authority, clarified that preliminary inspections found no evidence of illegal cargo, affirming that the LPG was loaded in either Dubai or Oman. Notably, the 'Captain Nikolas' encountered serious safety issues in the past; it was detained in Hunan in January due to fire protection violations on the cargo deck and was cited again in March for similar faults. In the nine months leading to this incident, the vessel changed flags multiple times, being registered in Panama and the Cook Islands before recently switching to Tanzania. Additionally, between September 9 and September 18, its Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals exhibited patterns indicative of manipulation. Meanwhile, the 'B-LPG Sophia' had recently been found with 16 deficiencies during an inspection on September 6, particularly concerning its emergency fire pumps and piping systems. For detailed coverage and visuals of the incident, readers are encouraged to visit the full report here: https://maritime-executive.com/article/two-lpg-carriers-catch-fire-at-chittagong-during-sts-transfer.