Efforts to
contain the fire that broke out onboard an Indian Oil-chartered oil carrier off Sri Lanka continued on Friday with the Indian Coast Guard dispatching additional
ships and aircraft for aid.
On Thursday, a fire broke out aboard a fully-loaded oil tanker, the New Diamond, off the coast of Sri Lanka
The Indian
Coast Guard said two additional ships, Ameya and Abheek, along with two Dornier
aircraft had been deployed to aid the ongoing effort.
“#FireFighting
in progress in consultation with Master of #MTNewDiamond onboard #ICG ship
Shaurya along with Tug APL Winger.Additional #ICG ship Ameya & Abheek being
deployed #today in PR configuration to augment efforts. 02 CG Dornier aircraft
also being deployed for air efforts,” the coast guard tweeted.
It earlier
said that the fire in the accommodation area of the ship had been successfully
doused, adding that a two-meter-wide crack was observed on the portside of the
tanker.
Also Read:Landmark protest in Mauritius over giant oil spill
“#FireFighting
#ICG ships successfully doused fire in accommodation area. #ICG ship Shaurya
continuously fighting fire with 03 tugs engaged in boundary cooling. 02 mtrs
crack observed near Port aft portion 10 mtrs above waterline.”
The VLCC crude
oil carrier had set sail from the port of Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait and was
carrying Kuwait Export Crude.
It was reportedly
carrying 2,70,000 tonnes or approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil.
Also Read: Japan experts head to Mauritius for oil spill clean-up
A Sri Lanka
official said that the VLCC was approximately 20 nautical miles off the coast
of Sri Lanka.
The coast
guard had earlier dispatched the ships Shaurya, Sarang, Samudra Paheredar in
addition to a Dornier aircraft for the operation.
According to a Reuters report, the ship was manned by a crew of 18 Philippines and 5 Greek nationals, a statement by the Sri Lankan Navy said.
The statement said that one Philippines national was injured while another was missing in the wake of the fire, adding that authorities “are taking steps to mitigate and manage the risk of possible oil spills in future due to this disaster”.
