FIRE ON BOARD CONTAINER VESSEL

Two FACS sent for assistance Two tugs sent to carry dousing mission No information on injuries

The Sri Lankan Navy, Air force and Ports Authority assisted in dousing the fire that erupted on board a Panama flagged container vessel MSC ‘Daniela’ on Tuesday night in the seas off the Colombo harbour.

Navy Spokesman Lieutenant Commander Chandima Walakuluge said yesterday that the teams were able to douse the fire by afternoon. .

The container ship MSC Daniela caught fire in the Indian Ocean 120 nautical miles off the Colombo port. The vessel had been en route from Singapore to the Suez Canal when it changed course seeking emergency assistance when the containers on the main deck caught fire.

The crew tried to extinguish the fire, but were unable to get control over it during the early stage of the fire. The crew changed course to Colombo and sent distress signals to the local authorities, requesting immediate assistance.

The Sri Lanka Navy dispatched two Fast Attack Craft (FAC) P 436 and P 412 to the location to assist the two tugs of the Lankan Ports Authority, Rawana and Maha Wewa to douse the flames.

The Navy said the two FACS were directed for immediate evacuation of the ship’s crew in the eventuality of spread of the fire.

They said having reached the vessel at 33 Nm off the Colombo harbour, the two tugs carried out the dousing mission while the 2 FACS continued to remain adrift at the location until the flames were completely extinguished.

Lieutenant Commander Walakuluge said at least 21 crew members were on board the vessel.

The SLAF had also deployed a Bell 212 Helicopter with Bambi bucket last morning to assist in dousing the fire.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy had sent two of its ships named INS Ghariyal and INS Darshak to assist in dousing the fire.

The vessel successfully reached Colombo anchorage. There is no information about injuries and water pollution. The container ship MSC Daniela is operating under AIS status Cargo – Hazard A (Major), but it is unknown if the dangerous cargo was affected by the fire.