Could steering malfunction be the main reason for the Hooghly river incident?

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Steering Malfunction Suspected as Primary Cause of Hooghly River Incident

A Singapore-flagged container ship, the Nawata Bhum, collided with a riverbank in West Bengal, India, on Wednesday, with strong currents and a suspected steering malfunction cited as the primary factors. The incident occurred near Diamond Harbour on the River Hooghly around 11 am local time. The vessel had departed Port Klang, Malaysia, on August 3 and was en route to Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata.
Vessel Failed to Navigate River Bend

According to vessel-tracking data, the Nawata Bhum "failed to recover from a bend in the river" after travelling approximately 50 km from the port. MarineTraffic indicated that strong currents and turbulent conditions, in addition to a potential steering issue, contributed to the ship's inability to navigate the bend successfully. The River Hooghly is known for its challenging navigation, characterized by sharp bends and sandbars.
Steering Gear Malfunction Reported

A local official suggested that the steering gear can become stuck, particularly when a vessel is attempting to correct its course after a turn. This suspected malfunction was evident when the captain realised the steering had jammed and immediately alerted nearby vessels by repeatedly sounding the ship's horn. Video footage confirmed no other vessels were in the immediate path of the container ship as it veered towards the embankment.
Recovery Operations Underway

Following the incident, tugboats were dispatched to the scene. These tugboats are expected to wait for the next high tide to assist in pulling the container ship, which is owned by Regional Container Lines, away from the riverbank. The ship's pilot contacted the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority shortly after the crash to report the event, and further information has been sought from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and the ship's owner.

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Could steering malfunction be the main reason for the Hooghly river incident?

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