Kolkata, June 18: A Chinese cargo ship carrying over 5000 metric tonnes (MT) of project cargo has been stranded 30 nautical miles off the Bengal coast since June 13. The Kolkata Port Trust has not been able to provide pilots to guide it into the Haldia port due to inclement weather.

The consignment is meant for a 4x600 MW power plant and a half-million tonne aluminium smelter for projects coming up at Jharsuguda in Orissa.

Sources told The Indian Express that due to choppy seas, some of the heavy deck cargo of the merchant vessel J King, from Shanghai, has broken its fastenings and has caused the ship to list dangerously by 10 degrees on the right.

The ship’s captain had written to the KoPT on June 17 seeking assistance. “Due to rough seas and high wind my ship cargo (has) shifted. Now (the) ship lists 10 degrees to starboard side. Please arrange pilot for berthing as soon as possible,” the letter said.

J King, manned by a 19-member all-Chinese crew, had reached the sandhead anchorage near the Haldia port on June 13 at 6.45 am and was waiting to berth. However, due to a shortage of pilots — navigators designated to guide ships through the sandhead up the river to Haldia port and to the Kolkata docks — the ship had to for two days.

On June 16 KoPT said a pilot would be provided during the evening high tide. Unfortunately, the weather turned unruly, sources said. At that time, the ship was only 15 nautical miles from the docks.

“However, once the ship began to list, the port authorities advised the vessel to retreat another 15 nautical miles into deep sea. They feared the vessel would capsize in the river and block the passage of other vessels,” sources said.

Much of the cargo, around 3723.5 MT, is for the $1.9 billion power plant being developed by Chennai-based Sterlite Industries’ at Jharsuguda.

When contacted, Capt A K Bagchi, Director, Marine Department, KoPT said, “It is not possible for the pilot to go out and board the vessel in such rough weather. It would have been a different matter if the weather had been normal.”