COLOMBO, Sept 10 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Sri Lanka Navy said, a fire, which had reignited onboard the MT New Diamond oil tanker, on Monday, has been brought under control and the distressed ship was being towed further away towards safe waters by a tug boat.
The vessel is carrying 270,000 metric tonnes of crude oil and was heading to the Paradip Port in India from Kuwait, when a fire broke out in its engine room, threatening to cause a massive oil spill in the Indian Ocean, while being in Sri Lanka’s eastern waters.
The navy said, the oil tanker is now about 37 nautical miles off the eastern coast, and the disaster management operation was continuing at full steam, in rough sea conditions and strong winds.
Further, the navy said, a narrow diesel oil patch extending to one km away from the ship was observed on Tuesday evening.
“In such circumstances, a Dornier aircraft of the Indian Coast Guard was flown to the site, to airdrop diesel dispersant, to minimise potential impact on marine environment. Also, a Marine Research Ship, owned by the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), arrived at the sea area and is conducting further studies regarding the case,” the navy said.
Presently there are no flames or smoke noticed from the oil tanker.
The Sri Lanka Navy said, it will continue to provide assistance to the distressed ship, until it leaves Sri Lanka’s Maritime Search and Rescue Region.– NNN-XINHUA
