NE NEWS SERVICE
COLOMBO, SEP 4
The Sri Lankan Navy with assistance from Indian ships was battling for a second day on Friday to douse a major fire raging on an oil tanker carrying crude from Kuwait to India that left one of its 23 crew members dead.
The Sri Lankan Navy on Friday confirmed that a Filipino sailor died in a boiler explosion in the engine room of the Panama registered tanker MT New Diamond that caught fire on Thursday.
Concerted joint #SAR & #FireFighting efforts by ICG Ships, SL Navy & tugs resulted in rescue of 22 out of 23 crew safely. Search for 01 missing crew (Filipino) in progress. No oil spill reported in area. 02 Emergency Towing Vessels being deployed by GoI for #MTNewDiamond. pic.twitter.com/bjqMsQkio9
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 4, 2020
The Navy said that 22 of the 23 member crew had been safely rescued off the tanker.
The tanker was carrying 270,000 metric tonnes of crude oil from Kuwait to India when its engine room caught fire off the coast of Sangamankanda in the eastern district of Ampara.
The Navy said that so far the 270,000 metric tonnes of crude oil it was carrying had not been affected by the fire.
“Steps are currently being taken to stop the spread of fire to the cargo,” it said in a statement.
The Sri Lankan Navy is also taking steps to ensure that there will be no seepage of oil to the sea from the tanker. The distressed vessel is in the waters 23 nautical miles off the eastern coast where the sea depth is measured at 3100 metres.
The operation to douse the fire resumed early this morning under the supervision of the Greek national captain of the tanker.
02 #ICG Dornier aircraft with Pollution Response spray pods & Oil Spill Dispersants being launched from #Tuticorin to #Mattalla as a preventive measure towards oil spill contingency will augment #ICG & Sri Lankan Navy ships engaged on-scene @DefenceMinIndia @MEAIndia @HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/yFvwIA5aPA
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 4, 2020
The Indian Naval Frigate INS Sahyadri joined the operations by 0200 hours on Friday.
The Navy said two more Indian Coast guard vessels are to join the rescue operations.
The Indian Coast Guard on Thursday said that it pressed into action three of its ships and a Dornier aircraft after the Sri Lankan Navy sought assistance to control the fire onboard the oil tanker.
In a swift sea and air coordinated Search and Rescue (SAR) operation, the Coast Guard said it immediately diverted ICG Ships Shaurya, Sarang and Samudra Paheredar, besides a Dornier aircraft for the firefight on the oil tanker. The Sri Lankan Navy said that the two Russian vessels which were docked at the Hambantota port since August 31 and dispatched to the area to join the rescue operations departed Sri Lankan waters this morning.
On Thursday night, MV Helen, a vessel sailing in the area, rescued 3 Greeks and 16 Filipino crew members from the distressed vessel.
The Navy spokesman said that at least four ships had been dispatched to carry out the rescue operation.
The naval ships were dispatched from the eastern port of Trincomalee and the southern port of Hambantota.
At the time the fire broke out, the Panamanian-registered ship was about 38 nautical miles (70 kilometres) east of Sri Lanka.
ICG deployed ships to tackle oil tanker fire
The Indian Coast Guard on Friday said it has deployed its assets for fire-fighting and oil spill related activities after a crude-laden tanker bound for the country burst into flames off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka on Thursday.
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has deployed its ships and Aircraft for Search and Rescue (SAR) and fire fighting mission, approximately 37 Nautical Miles east of Tirrukkovil (South East Sri Lankan Coast) for saving 23 merchant crew on board MT New Diamond, a Defence release here said.
“In a joint effort the 22 crew of the ill fated ship have been evacuated. ICG has diverted its ships Shaurya and Sarang on patrol for fire fighting and other assistance for the distressed vessel,” it said. ICGS Sujay with helo and divers has also been dispatched from Chennai.
Further, its Pollution Response Vessel Samudra Paheradar has sailed out of Vishakapatnam for oil spill response. “CG Dornier has been deployed from Chennai for aerial recce. ICG formations have been alerted for immediate assistance towards pollution response.
ICG is in constant communication and maintaining coordination with Sri Lankan authorities for the operation,” it added.
