Fresh Fire Hits Stricken Indian Oil Supertanker MT New Diamond Off Sri Lanka

Fire fighters are again battling flames aboard a fully loaded oil supertanker off Sri Lanka, the island’s nation’s navy said on Monday, four days after fire first broke out on the New Diamond.

“Fresh flames have risen in the funnel section of the MT New Diamond Supertanker and fire fighters are battling the fire using foam to contain the blaze,” said the Navy spokesman Captain Indika de Silva, adding that the fire had not reached the oil cargo of around 2 million barrels.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Marine Environment Protection Agency has said that legal action could be taken against the owners, Liberian-registered Porto Emporios Shipping Inc, “should the worst happen and the ship breaks up”.

A few hours back, the Indian Navy had tweeted, “Re-ignition of fire observed on Starboard (Right) side of #MTNewDiamond. Fire-fighting & boundary cooling efforts intensified to bring fire under control. Salvage Team has arrived at scene. Additional assets, salvage personnel & FF equipment also enroute.”

The fire broke out in the engine room last Thursday morning and spread to the bridge of the ship. That blaze was doused on Sunday.