Maersk Container Ship Collides With Feeder Vessel at Chattogram Port — Hull Breached, No Injuries Reported
A Maersk container ship suffered a significant hull breach on Friday after colliding with a container feeder vessel near the pilot station at the Port of Chattogram, Bangladesh , one of South Asia’s most congested maritime hubs. No crew injuries were reported, but the incident has drawn attention from local shipping authorities and sparked concern across the maritime community.
The vessel involved, Maersk Chattogram , a 2,700 TEU sub-panamax container ship flagged in Singapore and operated by global shipping giant Maersk ,was approaching the pilot station at approximately 09:30 local time when it struck the HR Turag, a 1,000 TEU container feeder. The collision caused a long, deep gash in the starboard quarter of the Maersk vessel, visible in photographs shared from the scene.
What makes the incident particularly notable is the prior connection between the two ships: HR Turag, formerly known as Maersk Arun, was once part of the Maersk fleet itself. The 1999-built feeder changed flags to Bangladesh in 2023 and has had no recorded port state control inspection since , a pattern consistent with domestic or intra-regional trading routes.
“The damage is limited to the external hull. The engine and steering gear remain in good condition,” crew members told local outlet TBS News.
Maersk’s local office confirmed that the vessel would proceed with its scheduled cargo operations at Chattogram before being taken for hull repairs. As of Monday, Maersk Chattogram remained moored at a container terminal along the Chattogram waterfront.
Bangladesh’s Department of Shipping and Port of Chattogram authorities have been notified and are expected to conduct a formal investigation into the cause of the collision. The outer anchorage area at Chattogram is known for heavy vessel traffic, tidal complexity, and tight maneuvering conditions , all factors that maritime investigators will likely scrutinize.
Maersk Chattogram has recorded a history of minor port state control inspection deficiencies over the past three years, though nothing that flags it as a high-risk vessel under standard maritime oversight frameworks.
The collision comes at a time of heightened global scrutiny over port traffic management and container ship safety, especially in emerging-market ports handling growing volumes. For Chattogram , Bangladesh’s primary container gateway and a critical link in South Asian supply chains , incidents like this reinforce calls for upgraded vessel traffic services and improved anchorage protocols.
