Probe finds allegation about scrap vessel MV Nina to be true:

CHITTAGONG, June 17: MV Nina, a 31-year old vessel imported as scrap for dismantling, is now in operation as a commercial vessel carrying a different name, MV Water King, investigation officials have confirmed.

MV Water King is bearing the registration no. C-785, issued by the principal officer, Mercantile Marine Department, Chittagong.

MV Nina, allegedly was taken out of the shipbreaking yard and pressed into operation as a commercial vessel which poses a threat to environment.

The particulars of MV Nina including its engine number are identical with the particulars and the engine number of MV Water King, investigation official told this correspondent.

Following a report published in The Financial Express on April 4 this year the government formed a probe committee with Capt Mostafa Kamal, nautical surveyor of the DG Shipping, to investigate the anomalies with regard to MV Water King (ex-MV Nina). The DG Shipping office asked him to submit the report within seven days.

MV Nina was imported as scrap vessel by SA Shipbreakers, Sagorika Road, Pahartali, Chittagong vide NOC number 10012720 dated 15 February 2010 issued by Md Musharraf Ashraf, Chief Chemist, Environmental Management Section of the Department of Shipping, only for demolition purpose.

But the said shipbreaker sold off the vessel intact to Messrs Water Voyage Shipping, Lily House Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka who later transferred it to Messers Belayet Navigation, Dhaka in violation of shipping rules, a senior mercantile marine department official said.

When contacted by phone investigation officer Capt Mostafa Kamal told the FE on June 5 that there is major violation of set rules of the government against the vessel in question and the allegations have been found true.

"Acting upon the directives from the Principal Officer of Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) in Chittagong and the Director General of Shipping, Dhaka I had inspected MV Water King physically at Ashuganj and procured all the related documents. Physical inspection and related papers have revealed that the allegations are correct," Capt Kamal said.

He further said that highest authority in the ministry of shipping (MoS) has taken the issue with due importance and he has been under pressure from the ministry and the government intelligence agencies to speed up the investigation. "The government intelligence agencies are also helping me in the probe," he concluded.

Another Shipping Ministry official hinted that the probe report was supposed to be submitted to the authority by the first week of June 2011 but no action has yet been taken.

When contacted, the DG Shipping Commodore Zubair Ahmed said yesterday (Thursday), "There are few more allegations against a number of vessels which we are trying to unearth and so it's taking some more time."

But the fact remains that the registration of MV Water King through fraudulent act of Messers Belayet Navigation, Dhaka, is a genuine case for action, MMD official who did not want to be named told this correspondent

Source: The Financial Express. By Pankaj Dastider. Saturday, 18 June 2011 

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=139676&date=2011-06-18