Causes and remedy of river accident

There are numerous causes behind each of the vessel accidents. However, in the analysis main contributor of the accidents has been considered as cause. The major reasons are: 

1. Overloading: Overloading has been found as the main cause of accidents having maximum share of 56%. Overloading the vessel for maximizing profit is the general tendency of vessel operators in Bangladesh. Loading of excess cargos in upper deck of passenger vessels and allowing passengers in the upper deck are the common symptoms. This intern increase top weight of the vessel and make it unstable. Most of the accidents due to overloading indicate that vessels were found to be overloaded as many as 4/5 times of their capacity. 

2. Lack of Efficiency: Lack of efficiency of the crews is second contributor with 14% share. Absence of qualified pilot and engine operator, lack of common sense, absence of knowledge to handling the emergencies fall under this group. 

3. Different Breakdown: Different Breakdown is third contributor with 10% share: Some factors like machineries breakdown, steering failure, unavailability of navigation aids and above all lack of knowledge on machineries & equipment are related to this type of accidents.

4. Storm: Storm has significant impact on accidents. The absence of meaningful weather forecast and cyclone warning system is responsible for such accidents. It has also been found that vessel operators are very reluctant to follow order regarding sailing in the inclement weather. 

5. Faulty Design and Construction of Vessels: Many passenger vessels sink in mid-river due to faulty con- struction. There is less provision of regular checks by surveyors for faults in the construction of vessel. Proper inspection is either nominal or not done at all. Due to construction fault the stability of the vessel is liable to be disrupted by even small external disturbance leading to accident. 

6. Inadequate Navigational and Radio Equipment: Almost all the passenger vessels are supposed to have Navigational radar for channel orientation, communication equipments for keeping contact with other vessels and shore, GPS' for automatic positioning, Echo sounder for depth measuring. Moreover, all passenger vessels must have radio reception equipments to receive weather news timely. But, most of our passenger vessels do not have such arrangements. 

7. Unsafe River Route: Bangladesh does not have sufficient technology and trained manpower to carryout river survey regularly. As a result the river routes remained uncharted for longtime. Reduction of the depth of rivers by siltation, presence of underwater wreckage always remains as hidden danger in this country. Besides general advice of BIWTA to avoid the confluences in a particular time of the year is neglected by masters. As a result the unsafe river routes become one of the major causes of passenger vessel fatalities. 

8. Lack of Vessel Fitness: A large number of vessels operating along the inland waterways do not have fitness or registration papers. 

9. Collision: Collision, grounding and combination of reasons are also the significant causes. 

10. Lack of Qualification and Experience of Crews: Crews of few vessels also do not have enough experience and expertise required by the law which intern lead to the accidents. Ne training to face the emergencies are provided to the crews. Moreover, no refresher training is available. 

11. Lack of Monitoring: We have policy, we have law and we know the mechanism to work. But still nothing works, the vessels faces accidents for the same reason again and again due to lack of monitoring, negligence and failure to apply the laid down rules and regulations. 

12. Absence of Exemplary Trial and Punishment: It is one of the major reasons of repeating accidents for same reason. 

Following may be given due consideration: 

1. Inland Ship Safety Administration should be strengthened immediately by bringing the IWT sector under any single organization. 

2. Accountability and responsibility of masters, drivers, and port supervisors need to be clearly specified. 

3. Offices of the registrar needs up gradation with special facilities of computerized registration. 

4. Detailed instruction may be laid down to eliminate confusion between professionals of multiple backgrounds. Responsibility of design approval section should belong to a group of professional designers. 

5. More resources should be allocated for survey matter e.g., recruitment of more trained surveyors, staff etc unless classification society is formed locally to survey vessels. The surveyors should be supplied with necessary tools. Professional training courses may be introduced locally for surveyors before appointing them to their posts. 

Forming Local Classification Society should be encouraged; which would not only strengthen the IWT sector, but also encourage and ensure technology transfer in the whole marine field.