VLCC Carrying 270000 Tonnes Of Oil Catches Fire Off Sri Lankan Coast
A very large crude oil tanker (VLCC) ship which is carrying 2,70,000 tonnes of oil cargo coming from Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait, caught fire off the east coast of Sri Lanka.
The ship – MT New Diamond, which was built in 2000 with 300,000-dwt capacity, was heading to the port of Paradip in India where the Indian Oil Corporation operates a 300,000 barrel-per-day refinery. The tanker has been chartered by Indian Oil Corp (IOC).
To assist in fire fighting and rescue actions, the Indian Coast Guard and Sri Lankan Navy are carrying out a joint operation.
Srilankan Navy has deployed two navy ships and an aircraft to the accident site to help in the rescue effort.
“The Sri Lanka air force has scrambled an observation aircraft and the navy has sent in two ships to help with rescue efforts,” navy representative Commander Rajapaksa told Reuters.
Sri Lanka’s Marine Protection Authority are taking appropriate steps for prevention of possible oil spill from the tanker.
Reference: financialpost.com
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