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Only 2pc launches use weather forecast device

Owners risk passengers' lives to save Tk 10,000

ASHIQUR RAHMAN
Most launches plying on inland waterways do not use weather forecasting machines to detect tornadoes and nor'westers, a frequent cause of launch disasters every year, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) source said.
At best only two percent launches on inland waterways may be using aneroid barometers or hygrometers for detecting possible tornadoes and nor'westers.
Although the shipping ministry asked launch owners to install these
important weather instruments about one and a half years ago, the launch owners have only shown indifference to the matter, the BIWTA officials alleged.
"The launches on inland waterways often experience terrible accidents, falling into tornadoes or nor'westers because of not using aneroid barometers or hygrometers, while the cost of installing these instruments is between Tk 3,000 to 10,000 only," Emdadul Haque, joint director (Marine) of BIWTA Conservancy and Pilotage Department, said.
Most of the coastal vessels in the
country can easily save themselves from tornadoes and nor'westers by using these weather instruments, he mentioned.
Using an aneroid barometer and hygrometer, a launch master can determine abnormality in the humidity and air pressure half an hour before a tornado or nor'wester strikes, Emdad explained adding that once the whole system is presented to a launch master, he can easily understand the readings of the machines.
"Sensing the abnormality in the weather, the master then gets an opportunity to take the launch to a safer place on an emergency basis and thereby save the lives of hundreds of passengers," he said.
"Installing an aneroid barometer and hygrometer on every launch on the inland waterways should be mandatory during its registration and survey," Emdad asserted.
Another BIWTA official requesting anonymity also expressed the same view, pointing out that there are no other ways to forecast tornadoes and nor'westers.
"Talking to the launch owners, we know they are also interested in installing such cheap but essential weather forecasting machines on their launches," he said adding, "But the main problem is that these machines have to be imported whereas they could easily be produced locally."
"The widespread use of aneroid barometers and hygrometers on launches will be easier when our scientists come forward to manufacture them locally," he added.
The BIWTA official also stressed the need for government subsidies on manufacturing aneroid barometers and hygrometers locally.
Bangladesh Launch Owners' Association President Giasuddin Al Mamun also acknowledged the necessity of installing these machines for saving the launches from tornadoes and nor'westers.
Considering the cheap price of these machines, he said some launch owners may afford them.
He, however, denied receiving any direction from the shipping ministry for installing aneroid barometers and hygrometers on the launches.
Meanwhile, Shahabuddin Milon, owner of the MV Paterhat, said, "The installation of the barometer on a launch is not enough in the present context as there is an acute shortage of safer places to take shelter on the different river routes during tornadoes or nor'westers."
He, however, said launch owners may be inspired to install weather forecasting machines on their launches if they government provided loans.
The launch owners are in danger because of increasing diesel prices and the suspension on reconditioned launch engine imports, Milon, also the vice chairman of the association, said.
Asking the launch owners to install these weather forecasting machines on their launches at a moment of such crisis will definitely anger them, he added.Only 2pc launches use weather forecast device Owners risk passengers' lives to save Tk 10,000 Ashiqur Rahman
Most launches plying on inland waterways do not use weather forecasting machines to detect tornadoes and nor'westers, a frequent cause of launch disasters every year, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) source said.
At best only two percent launches on inland waterways may be using aneroid barometers or hygrometers for detecting possible tornadoes and nor'westers.
Although the shipping ministry asked launch owners to install these important weather instruments about one and a half years ago, the launch owners have only shown indifference to the matter, the BIWTA officials alleged.
"The launches on inland waterways often experience terrible accidents, falling into tornadoes or nor'westers because of not using aneroid barometers or hygrometers, while the cost of installing these instruments is between Tk 3,000 to 10,000 only," Emdadul Haque, joint director (Marine) of BIWTA Conservancy and Pilotage Department, said.
Most of the coastal vessels in the country can easily save themselves from tornadoes and nor'westers by using these weather instruments, he mentioned.
Using an aneroid barometer and hygrometer, a launch master can determine abnormality in the humidity and air pressure half an hour before a tornado or nor'wester strikes, Emdad explained adding that once the whole system is presented to a launch master, he can easily understand the readings of the machines.
"Sensing the abnormality in the weather, the master then gets an opportunity to take the launch to a safer place on an emergency basis and thereby save the lives of hundreds of passengers," he said.
"Installing an aneroid barometer and hygrometer on every launch on the inland waterways should be mandatory during its registration and survey," Emdad asserted.
Another BIWTA official requesting anonymity also expressed the same view, pointing out that there are no other ways to forecast tornadoes and nor'westers.
"Talking to the launch owners, we know they are also interested in installing such cheap but essential weather forecasting machines on their launches," he said adding, "But the main problem is that these machines have to be imported whereas they could easily be produced locally."
"The widespread use of aneroid barometers and hygrometers on launches will be easier when our scientists come forward to manufacture them locally," he added.
The BIWTA official also stressed the need for government subsidies on manufacturing aneroid barometers and hygrometers locally.
Bangladesh Launch Owners' Association President Giasuddin Al Mamun also acknowledged the necessity of installing these machines for saving the launches from tornadoes and nor'westers.
Considering the cheap price of these machines, he said some launch owners may afford them.
He, however, denied receiving any direction from the shipping ministry for installing aneroid barometers and hygrometers on the launches.
Meanwhile, Shahabuddin Milon, owner of the MV Paterhat, said, "The installation of the barometer on a launch is not enough in the present context as there is an acute shortage of safer places to take shelter on the different river routes during tornadoes or nor'westers."
He, however, said launch owners may be inspired to install weather forecasting machines on their launches if they government provided loans.
The launch owners are in danger because of increasing diesel prices and the suspension on reconditioned launch engine imports, Milon, also the vice chairman of the association, said.
Asking the launch owners to install these weather forecasting machines on their launches at a moment of such crisis will definitely anger them, he added.