NEW DELHI, Sept 6 (NNN-PTI) – Indian Coast Guard (ICG) yesterday said, the fire on a supertanker has been reduced, and the tanker has been pushed away from Sri Lanka’s coast into deeper waters.
An ICG spokesman said, the firefighting operation was still underway.
“ICG and Sri Lankan ships and aircraft, along with tug winger, after consolidated efforts, successfully towed the New Diamond more than 35 nautical miles away from Sri Lanka coast to safe waters,” ICG said.
According to ICG, so far, no oil slick has been reported from the spot.
Fire broke out on the oil tanker, 37 nautical miles east off Sri Lanka, on Thursday. Since then efforts to contain the fire are on going.
ICG ships reached the spot Thursday evening, along with aircraft. Firefighting continued for the whole day on Friday, and Saturday (yesterday), marked the third day of the blaze.
According to officials, of the 23 crews on board, 22 were rescued. However, one crew member is still missing and presumed dead.
Photographs shared by ICG on its social media platform, show thick smoke billowing out from the tanker.
The New Diamond, a very large crude carrier (VLCC), chartered by Indian Oil Corp (IOC), was heading to the port of Paradip in India, where the state-run firm operates a 300,000 barrel-per-day refinery.
Reports said the tanker was carrying two million barrels of crude oil.– NNN-PTI
