Two container vessels, arrested in Chittagong on 22 March, have been released today (31 March), after 9 days remaining in detention.

The two boxships, one loaded with export containers and another empty, after unloading the imported boxes, were staying at the outer anchorage of the port of Chittagong, being arrested by the admiralty court.

Liberia-flagged San Alfonso and Marshall Islands-flagged Celsius Nelson were arrested in a dispute over non-payment of export proceeds by a buyer to a Bangladeshi jute exporter namely Razzaque Jute Industries Ltd.

Shahed Sarwar, deputy managing director of Crown Navigation Co (Pvt) Ltd, the local agent of Celsius Nelson told Container News that the two vessels had to furnish a bank guarantee of US$3.26 million to get released until the next court order.

He said that Celsius Nelson will take berth again on 1 April and will sail with export containers on 3 April.

San Alfonso remained afloat at the outer anchorage of the port with nearly 1,000 TEU outbound boxes, mainly laden with goods, and will sail towards Colombo today. Karnaphuli Group, the local agent of San Alfonso, confirmed in an advisory that the ship has been released and will proceed to sail shortly.

Sharar Nayel
Asia Correspondent

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