Singapore-flagged container ship crashes into riverbank in India after steering failure (VIDEO)

A Singapore-flagged container ship, the Nawata Bhum, collided with a riverbank in West Bengal, India on August 13 near Diamond Harbour, according to reports from the Straits Times. The vessel appeared to lose control while attempting to navigate a bend in the River Hooghly, with strong currents and a possible steering malfunction cited as contributing factors.

The ship, which departed Port Klang, Malaysia on August 3, was en route to Kolkata’s Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port when it struck the embankment. No injuries were reported in the incident, and a video posted on social media showed the container ship heading towards the riverbank before making contact with the embankment. Diamond Harbour, situated about 50km south of Kolkata, is known for its sharp bends and sandbars, making it a challenging stretch for vessels.

A local official explained that the steering gear can sometimes become jammed, particularly during a ship's attempt to recover from a turn. Upon realizing the steering had failed, the captain alerted nearby vessels by repeatedly sounding the ship's horn. Tugboats were dispatched to the site and will await the next high tide to remove the container ship from the riverbank.

The vessel is registered under Singapore's flag and is owned by Regional Container Lines. Maritime and Port authorities from Singapore, as well as the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority and Regional Container Lines, have been notified of the incident.