COLOMBO: A fire-stricken oil tanker was pushed away from Sri Lanka's coast and into deeper waters on Saturday (Sep 5), rescuers said, after successfully containing the blaze during a 36-hour operation.
The Panamanian-registered New Diamond carrying 270,000 tonnes of crude had drifted dangerously close to the eastern shores of Sri Lanka since issuing a distress message on Thursday morning.
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The Indian Coast Guard and the Sri Lankan navy said the 330-metre vessel was towed overnight to deeper waters some 60km away from the coast.
"There is no oil slick reported," the Indian Coast Guard said after a joint effort by the two countries to contain the blaze.
Map locating a stricken oil tanker off the coast of Sri Lanka. (Image: AFP)
Sri Lanka's navy said rescuers were still spraying foam on the vessel but that the blaze had been brought under control.
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There was no immediate danger of the tanker breaking up despite a 2m crack in the hull 10m above the waterline, it said.
The fire was triggered by an engine room explosion that killed a Filipino crewman on Thursday morning as the vessel was passing Sri Lanka on its way to the Indian port of Paradip.
It issued a distress signal 60km from Sri Lanka's eastern coastal town of Sangamankanda Point.
Three tugboats – two Indian and one chartered by the owners – were brought into action on Friday night to push the vessel back into deeper waters amid fears of an environmental disaster should the oil leak.
The fire was triggered by an engine room explosion that killed a Filipino crewman on Thursday morning but has since been brought under control. (Photo: AFP)
A total of 16 vessels, including specialised firefighting tugs and four aircraft, were deployed to bring the blaze under control by Friday night.
Sri Lanka's Marine EnviroRead More – Source
COLOMBO: A fire-stricken oil tanker was pushed away from Sri Lanka's coast and into deeper waters on Saturday (Sep 5), rescuers said, after successfully containing the blaze during a 36-hour operation.
The Panamanian-registered New Diamond carrying 270,000 tonnes of crude had drifted dangerously close to the eastern shores of Sri Lanka since issuing a distress message on Thursday morning.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The Indian Coast Guard and the Sri Lankan navy said the 330-metre vessel was towed overnight to deeper waters some 60km away from the coast.
"There is no oil slick reported," the Indian Coast Guard said after a joint effort by the two countries to contain the blaze.
Map locating a stricken oil tanker off the coast of Sri Lanka. (Image: AFP)
Sri Lanka's navy said rescuers were still spraying foam on the vessel but that the blaze had been brought under control.
Advertisement
Advertisement
There was no immediate danger of the tanker breaking up despite a 2m crack in the hull 10m above the waterline, it said.
The fire was triggered by an engine room explosion that killed a Filipino crewman on Thursday morning as the vessel was passing Sri Lanka on its way to the Indian port of Paradip.
It issued a distress signal 60km from Sri Lanka's eastern coastal town of Sangamankanda Point.
Three tugboats – two Indian and one chartered by the owners – were brought into action on Friday night to push the vessel back into deeper waters amid fears of an environmental disaster should the oil leak.
The fire was triggered by an engine room explosion that killed a Filipino crewman on Thursday morning but has since been brought under control. (Photo: AFP)
A total of 16 vessels, including specialised firefighting tugs and four aircraft, were deployed to bring the blaze under control by Friday night.
Sri Lanka's Marine EnviroRead More – Source
