The fire onboard the New Diamond supertanker which had been stationed off the Sri Lankan coast has been extinguished, the country’s navy said on Sunday, after three days of fire-fighting operations involving the Indian Coast Guard.
According to Sri Lanka Navy Spokesman Captain Indika De Silva, the fire has been completely doused, but they are still spraying water in case it reignites.
“#FireFighting With efforts of #ICG and SL Ships, Tugs and Aircraft fire appears to be doused. No flame & smoke visible on #MTNewDiamond. Situation being monitored for further action. Continuous boundary cooling in progress with use of AFFF & water spraying,” the Indian Coast Guard tweeted.
The Panama-flagged ship, chartered by the Indian Oil Corporation, was carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil, had a fire that started in the engine room on Thursday morning that later spread to the bridge of the ship. A Filipino sailor perished in the boiler room explosion that started the fire.
Five Greek and 18 Philippine nationals were among the crew.
It was en route from Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait to the port of Paradip India when the incident happened. Fears of a repeat of the Yemen oil tanker and Mauritius oil spills abounded when the fire was first reported. However, the Sri Lankan Navy had on Friday said there was no risk of an oil spill.
Five ships of the Indian Coast Guard, as well as one ship of the Indian Navy, helped in the firefighting operations.
