MV Filma, an Indonesian flag-carrier ship owned by Wilmer International, a company based in Singapore, arrived at the outer anchorage with 4,000 tonnes of refined palm oil from Indonesia on July 15, port sources said.

Following a dispute between the supplier and importer over payment against the imported oil, the cargo ship was stranded at the outer anchorage since its arrival, said sources at Seacom Shipping Line (SSL), local agent of the vessel.

Chittagong Port's radio control department lost contact with the ship Tuesday night and the SSL sources said the vessel left the port without paying port dues and other shipping charges.

The principal of MV Filma have been asked to locate the fleeing ship and regional ports were informed to trace it, the SSL sources added.

SNS International, a Dhaka-based business house, imported the refined palm oil, sources said.