COLOMBO/NEW DELHI (SRI LANKA/INDIA) – A fire broke out on a supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of oil in the Indian Ocean off the Sri Lankan coast on Thursday, said the island nation’s navy, adding that one member of the 23 crew was missing and another injured.
Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Captain Indika de Silva said flames spread to the bridge of the vessel New Diamond and two Russian warships in Hambantota harbour had left to assist in fighting the flames.
“We will need an international effort,” de Silva said, adding that the cargo section was safe.
“There were 23 crew on board. We are bringing one injured crew member to Sri Lanka on board one of our vessels.”
The New Diamond was chartered by Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and it was fully loaded with 2 million barrels of oil, according to Refinitiv data.
Sri Lankan Air Force photographs show thick fumes emanating from the bridge which is just behind the cargo section.
Another spokesman, Commander Ranjith Rajapaksa, said the vessel caught fire while it was 20 nautical miles off the east coast of Sri Lanka and that the military had sent two ships and an aircraft to assist in firefighting.
Indian coast guard tweeted that it had sent several vessels and aircraft to douse the flames.
