Three days since the fire broke out, fire-fighting operations continued on the fully loaded supertanker MT New Diamond off the east coast of Sri Lanka on Sunday, 6 September.
“On Scene Commander INS Sahyadri closely monitoring fire-fighting efforts on MT New Diamond, presently 70 km away from Sri Lankan coast. Additional assets including Emergency Towing Vessel Ocean Bliss now at scene,” the Indian Navy tweeted.
“Aerial reconnaissance continuing and flames still visible with smoke emanating from superstructure. Air-Dropping of Dry Chemical Powder being undertaken,” the Navy said.
The fire had broken out on 3 September.
WHAT LED TO THE INCIDENT?
The fire started in the engine room of The New Diamond and later spread across to other parts of the tanker, the report added.
Sri Lankan navy spokesperson Capt Indika Silva on Thursday informed that by the time the Sri Lankan navy reached the spot, 19 crew members had escaped on lifeboats and were picked up Lankan ships.
Eventually, the captain and two more crew members left the vessel, while the navy ships tried to douse the fire, reported The Indian Express.
The day the fire broke out, Indian Coast Guard said that the fire in the accomodation area was successfully doused but operations continued to douse the fire in other parts.
CREW ON THE SHIP
According to The Indian Express there were a total of 23 crew members on ship, out of which one member was reported missing and one was injured.
“Search for one missing crew (Filipino) is in progress. No oil spill reported in the area. Two emergency towing vessels are being deployed by India for MT New Diamond.”Indian Coast Guard
MORE ABOUT THE OIL TANKER
The vessel is called The New Diamond and is a very large crude carrier (VLCC). Chartered by the Indian Oil Corporation and en route to Paradip in Odisha, The New Diamond was carrying the equivalent of approximately 2 million barrels of oil, reported Reuters, citing Refinitiv data.
Lankan navy ships were thereby deployed to conduct the rescue operation. Indian Cost Guard ships Shaurya, Sarang, Samudra Paheredar and Dornier Aircraft were also deployed to assist in the fire-fighting mission.
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