Working Conditions Aboard the Meghna-Prestige

The bulk carrier 'Meghna Prestige', carrying a crew of 25, has been immobilized at Venezuela's Puerto Ordaz since January 29, 2025, entangled in legal issues following a tragic incident that resulted in the captain, Mahbubur Rahman, being taken into police custody. The captain was arrested after a diver tragically lost his life due to a propeller strike during a scheduled underwater inspection prior to the vessel's departure. The 'Meghna Prestige' originally docked at Boca Grande anchorage on January 12 to commence loading iron ore, with operations wrapped up on January 29. Local laws necessitate a thorough underwater inspection before leaving port to ensure safety protocols are met. Unfortunately, complications arose when the leader of the diving team, who could not communicate in English, required an interpreter from the ship's boarding agent. Despite some routine tasks remaining unfinished prior to the inspection, the diving team proceeded, and the ship began to drift in the wind. The duty officer briefly activated the engine, which inadvertently led to the fatal incident. On the same day, Mahbubur Rahman was brought to a police station, and a formal case was filed against him on January 30. Currently, he is being held under conditions deemed inhumane in a room adjacent to the station. In response to the situation, the shipping company has engaged two legal representatives to advocate for the captain. A Venezuelan court has since mandated his detention for an additional 45 days while investigations are ongoing. While the ship has sufficient food supplies for 10 to 15 days, it is now grappling with a critical water shortage. The owners have appointed a new captain, but the lack of necessary freshwater remains a pressing concern. Upon being alerted to the dire circumstances surrounding the 'Meghna Prestige', the Bangladesh Maritime Merchants Officers Association (BMMOA) reached out to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) for assistance, working to address the issue on an international scale.