A fully loaded super tanker carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil was caught in flames as a massive fire broke out in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Sri Lanka, spokesmen for the country’s navy said on Thursday night.
The tanker named MT New Diamond, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) was chartered by the Indian oil corporation (IOC) and was headed towards the Pradip port in Odisha, where the state run oil company operates three lakh barrel-per-day refinery.
The Navy spokesperson Captain Indika de Silva said the fire started in the engine room then flames had spread to the bridge of the New diamond. He said, that the navy personnel at the scene had reported that the fire was under control.
He further informs that there was no damage to the ships’ cargo area and two anti-submarine Russian ships anchored at a Sri Lankan port were also heading to the spot. However, he says, “We will need international effort.”
Furthermore, Indian coast guard ships Shaurya, Sarang, Samudra Paheredar and Dornier aircraft has been deployed for immediate assistance.
The ship had 23 crew members on board of which one is missing and another injured. At the time the fire broke out, the Panama-registered ship was about 38 nautical miles (70 kilometres) east of Sri Lanka. The ship had sailed from the port of Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait, carrying Kuwait Export Crude.
Source: Mirror Now
