A major operation to offload consignment from commercial boat is still underway days after the vessel ran aground near Bossaso port off the coast of Somalia.
The boat was allegedly denied entry to the port prior the incident, according to captain and traders.
Rescuers from Puntland state’s port ministry, traders and good Samaritans are offloading commercial goods from Al-Hafis boat that was washed ashore at beach near the port.
The accident which reportedly happened on 5th of February is yet to be responded well by according to Puntland traders.
Al-Hafis boat which is carrying consignment worth $10 million including vehicles, cement, fuel, and wood for Somali businessmen had sailed from United Arab Emirates.
Port Authority Laxity
The owners of consignment accused Puntland port ministry officials of neglecting repeated alerts sent by the boat before it ran aground near the port.
Abdullahi Mohamed Muse, one of the goods owners onboard said the boat which had face imperfection with leaking water into it had been neglected docking at the port.
“The captain tried his best to save the boat together with the shipment, but the authority of Bossaso port denied the boat to dock at the port, leading it to be washed away,” Muse said.
Strong winds
Port minister, Siad Mohamed Ragheh dismissed the accusations saying the boat washed ashore after it was hit by strong winds.
” As ministry, we received the message of the boat saying it faced a defect and water was leaking into it, though it was late hour, we immediately dispatched rescuers but unfortunately due to the strong winds and the size lane of port, the vessel already ran aground,” said Ragheh.
The minister pledged that they would launch an investigation into the incident.
In 2015, fire broke out on the deck of commercial boat which was ferrying livestock to Gulf countries.
The crew of the boat who were six in number were rescued by Puntland marine forces
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