What Crew Members Say About Km.-Sulawesi-Leader

On July 11, 2015, the car carrier 'Asian Leader' found itself adrift in the Andaman Sea, located to the west of Lampi National Park in Myanmar. As of midnight on July 14, the vessel was approximately 30 miles away from the nearest islands, navigating through fresh southwest winds. At the time of the incident, the 'Asian Leader' was making its journey from Kolkata to Singapore.

In a notable maritime incident, three vessels collided in Kolkata's Garden Reach General Anchorage Point on Monday, marking the second such event in a year at this crucial shipping hub managed by the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT). The collision occurred around 12:30 PM when the Panama-flagged vehicle carrier, Asian Leader, was departing the dock. At the time of the incident, both Mandena, an Antiguan ship, and Siphon Voyager, a Malaysian vessel, were securely anchored at the dock. Thankfully, the ships were largely empty, mitigating the potential for extensive damage. According to a KoPT spokesperson, there were no hazardous materials onboard the vessels, eliminating concerns regarding fires or environmental hazards. "There are no casualties or injuries reported," the spokesperson confirmed, adding that all involved ships have since been escorted back to port for necessary repair work. Initial assessments revealed minor damages, with Mandena's crane sustaining an impact and Asian Leader's hull appearing cracked. Additionally, some containers aboard Mandena were reported damaged due to the incident. This occurrence follows a previous close call at the KoPT waterfront last November, when two container ships, Tiger Spring and Green Valley, narrowly avoided disaster when one collided with the other while navigating the waters near Nurpur in South 24 Parganas. Remarkably, that incident also resulted in no casualties, thanks to the quick actions of the river pilot, who skillfully maneuvered the damaged vessel to a sandbank, preventing a potential sinking. The repeated incidents have raised concerns regarding maritime safety protocols at Kolkata's ports, emphasizing the need for enhanced oversight to prevent future accidents that could not only disrupt logistics but also pose risks to the environment.