Oil tanker engulfed in flames, anchored off Gujarat Coast

Being a merchant ship that transports oil, the vessel is to maintain the top security and safety measures for the personals and the environment.

A major fire broke out on an oil tanker carrying 30,000 tonnes of high speed diesel off the coast of Gujarat on Wednesday evening. All 26 crew members were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard, however, two of them suffered burn injuries.

The fire on MT Genessa, which is anchored 15 nautical miles off Deendayal Port Kandla, started around 6 pm on Wednesday.

The tanker is 183 metres in length and has a draft of 10 metres.

Three Indian Coast Guard (ICG) vessels, nine Tugs from KPT, Reliance, Essar, Adani and ICG Dornier rushed to douse the flames on the MT Genessa oil tanker

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“There was a fire in the crew compartment and efforts are underway to douse it,” a Coast Guard official said.

Indian Coast Guard Interceptor Boat C-403 is at the scene and the maritime security agency’s pollution control team has been activated, a defence spokesperson said.

He said a Dornier aircraft has been pressed into service to ascertain the extent of the fire.

Water sampling of the ocean shows no sign of oil spilling, informed the Gujarat Defence Ministry.

ICG control vessel is at the site and ICGS Samudra Pavak is overseeing the entire operations.