Master of bulk carrier (Meghna Liberty) killed in his cabin by cook, in Indian ocean

Master of bulk carrier killed in his cabin by cook, in Indian ocean

Posted in Accidents by Mikhail Voytenko on Nov 25, 2021

Cook on board of Bangladeshi bulk carrier MEGHNA LIBERTY reportedly killed ship’s Master on Nov 20, in the Indian ocean. He gave himself up to the crew after telling them he killed Master, in Master’s cabin. Master was found in his cabin in a pool of blood. MEGHNA LIBERTY interrupted the voyage from South Africa to Haldia India and called the nearest port, Port Louis, Mauritius, where she arrived on Nov 22. Investigation underway. All or majority of the crew are reported, of Filipino nationality.

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The Meghna Liberty was built by China Shipbuilding in 2014 as Meghna Liberty. The vessel is owned by Meghna Group of Induastries (MGI).

Other vessels built by China Shipbuilding for Meghna Group are:

Vessel Name	Vessel Type	Size	Built	Owner Company
Mercantile-44	Gas Carrier – LPG/Ethane Carrier	2,000 cu.m.	2020 – 05	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Mercantile-45	Gas Carrier – LPG/Ethane Carrier	2,000 cu.m.	2020 – 05	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Ocean Tulip	Bulk Carrier – Supramax	52,297 DWT	2006 – 06	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Meghna Pride	Oil Tanker – Handysize	12,796 DWT	2005 – 05	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Ocean Glory	Bulk Carrier – Supramax	55,903 DWT	2006 – 03	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
X-Press Meghna	Container Ship – Feeder	917 TEU	2009 – 02	Sea Consortium Pte Ltd
Ocean Grace	Bulk Carrier – Supramax	56,029 DWT	2005 – 04	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Meghna Princess	Bulk Carrier – Supramax	62,534 DWT	2019 – 03	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Meghna Adventure	Bulk Carrier – Supramax	62,472 DWT	2018 – 06	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Ocean Pride	Bulk Carrier – Supramax	56,045 DWT	2006 – 07	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Meghna Harmony	Bulk Carrier – Supramax	56,042 DWT	2006 – 10	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Meghna Liberty	Bulk Carrier – Supramax	55,905 DWT	2014 – 01	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Meghna Paradise	Bulk Carrier – Supramax	53,556 DWT	2006 – 11	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Meghna Rose	Bulk Carrier – Supramax	56,023 DWT	2006 – 04	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Meghna Energy	Bulk Carrier – Supramax	55,641 DWT	2008 – 06	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Meghna Trader	Oil Tanker – Handysize	13,097 DWT	2007 – 07	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)
Mercantile-47	Gas Carrier – LPG/Ethane Carrier	2,000 cu.m.	2021 – 08	Meghna Group of Industries (MGI)

Mauritius NewsBy Lexpress24/11/2021

The MV Meghna Liberty was repatriated urgently to the port of Mauritius after a distress call. The Bangladeshi ship had left Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on November 14, for India. But around 8:50 p.m. Sunday, while the bulk carrier was northwest of St Brandon, Calopez Alfred Kenneth Bonghanoy, the chef, a 33-year-old Filipino, confessed to his messman that he stabbed Rolly Baquillos Solante, 44, the captain. The latter immediately alerted a third officer, who in turn alerted other members of the crew. Together, they searched for the captain and the chef, who was found in a hallway of the ship.

Questioned, the latter would have declared: “already finished”. The team then headed for the cabin of the missing person to break down the door and enter the premises. The captain was found lying in a pool of blood, kneeling, his head on his bed and with several back injuries. The crew tried to revive him but he had already died. The chief officer alerted the company and on the advice of management, they docked in Mauritius, the nearest port. The autopsy, performed on Tuesday by Dr. Sudesh Gungadin, attributed the death of the 40-year-old to multiple injuries.

According to a source, it all started with an argument between the captain and the chef. During an initial interrogation on Monday night, the chef explained that the captain regularly denigrated him in front of the crew members and that he no longer digest his insults. He therefore killed him, stabbing him several times, and the murder was allegedly committed while they were still in South Africa. Scene of Crime office sleuths examined the boat but the murder weapon was not found; the suspect said he threw him into the sea.

The police waited for the green light from the authorities to proceed with the examination of the Bangladeshi bulk carrier. The investigators plan to continue the interrogation in the coming days. Calopez Alfred Kenneth Bonghanoy appeared in court Tuesday on an interim charge of murder. As for the 20 members of the crew, all Filipinos, they submitted to the sanitary protocol of the Ministry of Health to dock. They will also be heard by the investigators. Their passports and the bulk carrier logbook were seized. The investigation is being carried out by the port police under the supervision of Superintendent Vurdah and Chief Inspector Taujoo and the men of the Criminal Investigation Division of the port.

Particulars of the vessel

Ship Type

Cargo

Length × Breadth

189.99 X 32.25

Speed recorded (Max / Average)

14,40 / 7,80 knots

Flag

Bangladesh (BD) 

Call Sign

S2BI5

IMO: 9668051

Name: MEGHNA LIBERTY

Vessel Type – Generic: Cargo

Vessel Type – Detailed: Bulk Carrier

Status: Active

MMSI: 405000333

Call Sign: S2BI5

Flag: Bangladesh [BD]

Gross Tonnage: 31877

Summer DWT: 55905 t

Length Overall x Breadth Extreme: 189.99 x 32.25 m

Year Built: 2014

Home Port: PANAMA

The current position of MEGHNA LIBERTY is at Indian Ocean (coordinates 20.14223 S / 57.4874 E) reported 1 min ago by AIS. The vessel arrived at the port of Port Louis, Mauritius on Nov 22, 20:33 UTC.

The vessel MEGHNA LIBERTY (IMO: 9668051, MMSI 405000333) is a Bulk Carrier built in 2014 (7 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Bangladesh.

Meghna Liberty is registered as Loch Shuna and the registered owners are Sanzo Enterprise Panama SA.