A Singapore-flagged containership owned by Regional Container Lines (RCL) ran aground on the Hooghly River near Diamond Harbour, about 50 km south of Kolkata, after a steering failure, according to Splash247. The 13,852 dwt Nawata Bhum was inbound to Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata from Port Klang in Malaysia when its steering gear jammed while attempting to recover from a turn, the outlet reported.
Incident details and response
Splash247 reported that the ship ran aground on Wednesday and its bow became lodged in the embankment close to the Nurpur ferry ghat. Strong currents were cited alongside the steering failure as contributing factors. The ship's master alerted people on the bank by constantly blowing the horn, while pilots from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority on board notified the port immediately after the collision. No ferries were present at the time, and no injuries were reported. Part of the riverbank and a small road were damaged by the boxship.
Salvage and vessel status
The vessel remained aground for several hours until tugboats pulled it free around 22:30 local time during high tide, according to Splash247. Local media claimed that the hull was undamaged and that the ship could proceed to Kolkata under tow. Two tug vessels were still on location on Thursday morning local time, the outlet reported.
Previous grounding on the Hooghly
Splash247 noted that this was not the first incident of its kind on the river. In August 2023, the MTT Singapore boxship ran aground near Garchumuk after its steering malfunctioned.
Incident snapshot
| Incident | Vessel | DWT | Flag | Owner | Location | Cause | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (current) | Nawata Bhum | 13,852 | Singapore | Regional Container Lines (RCL) | Hooghly River near Diamond Harbour, close to Nurpur ferry ghat | Steering gear jammed; strong currents | Refloated by tugboats around 22:30 local time at high tide; hull reported undamaged by local media |
| 2023 (previous) | MTT Singapore | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Near Garchumuk | Steering malfunction | Ran aground; further details not reported by Splash247 |
Implications for shippers and operators
The grounding delayed the vessel's arrival at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port by several hours, as tugboats refloated it only at 22:30 local time during high tide, according to Splash247. For freight forwarders and shippers, the incident highlights the navigational risks on the Hooghly River approach to Kolkata, where Splash247 reported two steering-related groundings within three years. The outlet did not provide cargo volumes, berth throughput figures, or freight rate data related to the incident. The reported damage to the riverbank and small road, and the continued presence of two tugs on Thursday morning, are the operational facts available so far.
Watch list
Splash247 reported that two tug vessels were still on location on Thursday morning local time, and that part of the riverbank and a small road had been damaged. The source has not yet published information on port congestion, container delays, or freight rate changes resulting from the grounding.
Sources:
