Reviews & Ratings for the Mana

The bulk carrier 'Mana', laden with 50,071 tonnes of soybeans from Santarem Port, has been trapped at Chattogram port since June 8, 2024, following a contentious dispute over the condition of the imported cargo. As of now, the vessel has offloaded 30,000 tonnes of soybeans, bound for Shabnam Vegetable Oil Industries and Super Oil Refinery Ltd, both subsidiaries of TK Group. However, the remaining 20,070 tonnes sit stalled as water ingress has compromised the quality of the cargo, prompting importer Delta Agro Food Industries and the relevant declaring agent to halt further unloading. According to Active Maritime Ltd, the owner of the 'Mana', the delay has incurred substantial costs, with daily charter fees accumulating to $15,000 due to the lack of cooperation from the importer and declaring agent. On September 6, the vessel's captain and owner requested intervention from Chattogram port authorities and Customs to facilitate a resolution. By September 10, meetings took place between port officials and representatives from the shipping company to address the ongoing issue. In a formal communications, Captain Andonov criticized the receivers for their failure to accept cargo delivery, alleging coercive tactics aimed at extorting money from the ship's owners. He emphasized that this situation harms not just the stakeholders involved but also tarnishes the reputation of Bangladesh and Chattogram Port as a whole. Mohammad Mustafa Haider, chairman of Delta Agro Food, attributed the ongoing commercial conflict to the ship owner's responsibility for the damaged cargo, asserting that the matter is currently under mediation. He additionally noted that previously unloaded soybeans exhibited quality issues as well. With the cargo valued at $440 per tonne—equating to a staggering $8.83 million for the remaining shipment—Seacom Group, acting as the importer’s declaring agent, confirmed that the water ingress occurred when the ship encountered turbulent weather, damaging three of its five hatches. Zahur Ahmed, a director at Seacom, relayed that while the shipowner's delays have extended the resolution timeline, negotiations with cargo receivers are currently active. He optimistically predicted that an agreement could be reached within a week. Despite this, a June 11 survey led by the ship's P&I correspondent, Interport, attested to the water damage, recommending the manual separation of affected soybeans, which has yet to be acted upon—resulting in ongoing deterioration of the goods. Insiders within the shipping industry have raised alarms regarding the delays, insisting that such incidents risk damaging Chattogram port’s reputation. They have urged swift actions from port and customs authorities to resolve the dispute quickly. Md Omar Faruk, CPA Secretary, confirmed the receipt of correspondence from the shipowner, clarifying that resolution responsibilities lie with the importer, shipping agent, and P&I club. Once essential customs checks and port fees are settled, a no objection certificate will be issued, permitting the vessel to depart.

On November 2, 2018, at 4:15 PM, the bulk carrier 'Mana' made history as the inaugural ship to enter the newly inaugurated C-Dry Dock at Damen Ship Repair Yard in Curacao. This momentous occasion marked a significant step in the yard's operations, made possible with the help of KTK tugs. The 'Mana' had previously encountered substantial bottom damage due to a collision with a floating object, prompting the need for urgent repairs. The vessel's repairs were delayed as it awaited the readiness of the floating C-dock, which is capable of accommodating significant repair work. The nature of the damage presented by the bulk carrier was extensive, requiring the replacement of around 800 tons of steel, stretching from the bow to the engine room. To ensure the vessel was meticulously inspected and repaired, the owners brought in a Colombian surveyor from MTS Brazil to oversee the process. After a lengthy period in dry dock, the 'Mana' successfully completed its repairs and departed from Curacao on April 17, 2019. The ship then set course for Santana, arriving at its new destination on April 23 at 12:45 PM, where it anchored at the coordinates 00° 3.82' S 051° 6.59' W. For more insights and images from this operation, visit the detailed report provided by Tugspotters.