A diesel-laden merchant navy tanker caught fire on Wednesday (January 17) off the coast of Gujarat. The Coast Guard cordoned off the ship to prevent oil spill.
Efforts are on to douse the flames on the MT Genessa tanker which was carrying 30,000 tonnes of high-speed diesel. Water sampling has not shown any oil spill so far in the Arabian Sea from the tanker.
Anchored 15 nautical miles off the Deendayal Port in Kandla, the fire in the oil tanker’s crew compartment was reported last evening. Plunging into action immediately, the Indian Coast Guard rescued all 26 crew members, two of whom suffered burn injuries.
Defence PRO, Gujarat region, Abhishek Matiman told PTI on 18 January that no oil spill has been reported so far from the tanker.
#IndiaCoastGuard fire fight still on. 03 ICGVessels, 09Tugs frm KPT,Reliance,Essar,Adani & ICG Dornier in action.Water sampling shows no Oil Spill.ICG Pollution Ctrl Vessel at site.Proactive response frm all agencies.ICGS SamudraPavak overseeing ops.(2/2) @InfoGujarat @CMOGuj pic.twitter.com/rzudvqBlR2
— PRO Defence Gujarat (@Def_update) January 18, 2018
The Coast Guard has deployed 11 tug boats and four ships since last night to bring the fire under control. The security force said that hot Spots temperature has been brought down to 40 and 25 degree Celsius on port and starboard side, respectively. Hovercraft has been deployed to check if there are any oil traces along the shoreline.
#IndiaCoastGuard living upto their motto ‘Vayam Rakshamah’ worked tirelessly through the night, garnering & guiding resources frm Govt and pvt agencies in vicinity averted potential disaster at sea dousing fire that engulfed MT Genessa anchored off Kandla. (1/2) @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/mMx5bIFdjW
— PRO Defence Gujarat (@Def_update) January 18, 2018
Indian Coast Guard Interceptor Boat C-403 is at the scene and the maritime security agency’s pollution control team has been activated, an official earlier said.
@IndiaCoastGuard coordinated the fire fighting efforts of all stake holders to contain the fire on board ‘M T Genessa’ off Kandla Port this morning. Coast Guard continue to monitor situation and shoreline assessment @DefenceMinIndia @PIB_India @airnewsalerts pic.twitter.com/5wUUq6JOvt
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) January 18, 2018
“A Dornier aircraft has been pressed into service to ascertain the extent of the fire,” he said.
(With PTI inputs.)