UN-SAFE WATER TRANSPORT ROUTE

UN-SAFE WATER TRANSPORT ROUTE

 AN ANALYSIS FOR THE REMEDY-ORIENT OF THE CONTINUOUS WATER

TRANSPORT ACCIDENTS

 CAUSES :

FAULTS DUE TO DESIGN:

Designs for all of the Launches moving in the water transport ways are faulty. A close related source of the Directorate of the Ocean Transport was informed that the Launches, which are making for the Ferry Cross in different water transport ways route of the passengers, they are favorable for the calm river.  Designs, which are needed as per the specification of the standard to the heavy blow wind or stormy wind, there are not using in all of the launches. As per the information of the Directorate, there are moving in different water transport way routes which near about Twelve hundreds of passenger carrying launches. Among these, there is favorable design in only two launches moving in the Dhaka-Chandpur route. (The daily Jugantar 10 July 2003).

Now a days, there are moving near about Twenty thousands of Water transport Vessels in the Seven thousand K.M. Waterways in the country. Among those, there are more than Eight thousands of passenger vessels. Of those, there are made registration for only Two thousands. On the other, those have the registration, most of those have not the correct design. Designs have been made after performed of the registration. If be followed of the correct design, any launch can not be dropped into the water for fully with the cause of natural calamity or from the stroke of any other launch.  This launch can be go down by some of its part in one side and again may come to the straight position. If has been found from the investigation that in the last 26 years (1976 to 2002) that those launch accidents had been occurred about 496 numbers, 70 percent of those were not made the correct design.

Reference - Bangladesh Disaster Report 2002

The chief of the Bangladesh Engineering University of its Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department Dr. Riaz H. Khandokar was said, ( he is now performing the duties as Chairman of the BIWTA), " The Design for a ship is prepared after some of the clear scientific base  with a wide range of measurements". In it, the central loading point, protection of the downward wind stroke, many other subjects are considered including the shape of the lower part and as such, the launch can to be dropped into the water. But, if the design is to be made in faulty, it is then natural to occur of accidents and this is happening at now and then in Bangladesh. As per the rules, it is the duty for making of design to the Naval Architects. But really, these works are doing by the un-skilled Drafts men and the ships or launches are making as per of their own design/map. They make manage for the signing of it in later period or are approved in dis-honest manner from the BIWTA.

There are needed surveyors from three different disciplines for the design of the water vessel, supervise of the construction work, Survey and Registration, Skill Master-Driver and other man power if available and for to verify and after all to ensure of the safety waterways moving. The employment rules which was prepared in the year of 1980 for employment of Inland Surveyors, in it, the Master Mariner, Marine Engineer and Naval Architect, there was said to be made of employment from Master Mariner, Marine Engineer and Naval Architect of these three disciplines.  In the later period and in the year 1986, by an un-planned amendment, there was changed of the employment for the year 1980 and was said for only to be employed of the surveyors for the Marine Engineers. For this, there is remarkable about absent of the professionals from the most two important disciplines as Inland Surveyors that is treating by many persons for one of the most cause to the Inland Waterways accidents in Bangladesh.

7.2. UN-SKILLNESS OF THE DRIVER AND DIS-RESPONSIBILITY:

There is another most important cause for the launch accident is the dis-attention of the driver, un-skill ness and maintaining dis-responsibility. Most of the launches have no skill driver. There was not received for the information even after made of much searching which numbers of person have the certificate as the skill driver against of moving 100 numbers of launches moving in the Dhaka-Chandpur-Barisal Route.

Some of the cases, accidents are occurred for the un-skill ness of the Launch Masters. In side by side, they do show of their negligence in the duty works and do not follow of the Waterways Traffic. Masters have also not the sufficient knowledge about the weather, they do not know in what direction and when it will be better if be gone there. Water transport vessel movement signal, "Rules of Routes", they have no correct idea.  They have no sufficient knowledge about the Hydrology of the River, the name and follow up, the current and cyclone force in the different point of the river and the junction of rivers. Many of them have not known how to take of caution and for to make challenge of the disturbed weather or if has known by some body, they do not apply it in the work field. Besides, for the most important about the water transport and the compulsory institutional training matter for the driver-master, they are not obeying it.  This case, those that takes the examination for the masters, there is also devolving the responsibility to the examiner board. There are not verifying about this essential knowledge in both of the written and verbal test and as such, the launch accidents are not reducing.  Also in the case of water transport operation and in the license giving, there are not following for any sufficient rules and regulations. Through the media of bribe and illegal connection, many men collect the duplicate license and operate the water transport vessels.  So, the risk for the water transport accidents is remaining.

Reference: Ajker Kagoj 10 July 2003.

ACTUAL CAUSE OF THE LAUNCH ACCIDENT AND OPINION OF THE DRIVER

M.V. SAMPAD is a three flooring launch from the company of Khan A. Rahman and Sons of which registration number 7097. This launch does move in the route of Dkaha-Bhola-Dhaka  and is moving for about 5 years in the Dhaka-Barisal-Dhaka route and Dhaka-Bhola-Dhaka route. The volume of it is 180 ft length, width 32 ft and draft 10 ft and the capacity of passenger carrying is 500 persons.

Abdul Khaleque is running to the professional of launch operation for about 14 years. In this long period of his profession, he had been faced to the natural disaster for several times and again had been come to the right position in successfully with his own experience.

According to the opinion of him, the most cause for launch accident is the faulty design. The length, width, draft and height, the four parts of a launch is proportionate to each other and are related to the scientifically method. As when it is increased the length, width and height of a launch in own wishing for to increase of the passenger carrying capacity, the launch becomes as faulty. Because, if it is possible to increase of the length and width, but the draft is not possible to increase. The draft means the deepness structure level of water transport vessel to the lower side, which can keep the balance of the water, transport vessel. When it reduces the draft of a water transport vessel in proportionately than its height, then it may have the possibility to turn over this vessel with the stroke of a little wind blow. According to the version of Mr. Khaleque, " A less draft based water transport vessel is as like a rootless tree".

The End.