Indian Coast Guard Ensures Safety: No Risk to Karnataka’s Pristine Marine Environment from Panamanian Cargo Fire
ICG Quells Fire on MV Maersk Frankfurt, Ensures No Marine Risk
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully extinguished a fire aboard the MV Maersk Frankfurt, a Panamanian flag cargo vessel, located 50 nautical miles southwest of New Mangalore Port. The vessel, which first reported a major fire 80 nautical miles west of Goa on July 19, 2024, poses no threat to the marine environment or Karnataka’s coastal areas, as per an ICG release on July 28, 2024.
The fire is under control, with ICG ships engaging in boundary cooling to manage sporadic minor flames from incinerated sealed containers. The vessel remains structurally stable and operational, with its power and propulsion intact. Five ICG ships, two Advanced Light Helicopters, and a Dornier aircraft have executed multiple sorties in the ongoing Operation ‘Sahayata,’ dropping over 1,200 kg of dry chemical powder on the fire.
Despite a crew member’s disappearance, identified as a Filipino national among a 21-member foreign crew, the others are safe and in good health. Specialized salvors are aboard the vessel, with two ocean-going tugs, Albattros 5 and Maha Wewa, assisting ICG efforts. An additional tug, Creative-I, with specialized tools, is expected to join, while another vessel, Valiant, departs from Sharjah to aid operations.
ICG Ship Samudra Prahari, equipped with a Dynamic Positioning System, is actively involved in firefighting close to the cargo carrier. Likewise, ETV Water Lily is contracted by DG Shipping to assist. The operation base is New Mangalore Port, where the ICG and salvors coordinate their efforts.
The salvage team is poised to take over completely after receiving four to five more days of ICG assistance. Concurrently, the search for the missing crew member will commence following a marine chemist’s atmospheric analysis. With improvement in sea conditions anticipated, the ICG expects a boost in efforts to completely eliminate the fire. Additional coordination meetings with relevant stakeholders aim to resolve the crisis swiftly.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/no-risk-to-karnatakas-marine-environment-from-fire-onboard-panamanian-flag-cargo-carrier-indian-coast-guard/article68456773.ece
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