A devastating fire broke out on the MV Maersk Frankfurt near Goa, resulting in one fatality and ongoing firefighting efforts. The incident highlights the dangers faced by maritime vessels carrying hazardous materials.
In Short:
- Incident: Fire on MV Maersk Frankfurt
- Date and Time: Friday afternoon
- Location: Off Betul, Goa
- Casualties: One death, a Filipino crew member
- Crew: 21 members from the Philippines, Montenegro, and Ukraine
- Cause: Suspected short circuit
- Cargo: International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG)
- Response: Indian Coast Guard and Navy dispatched ships and aircraft for firefighting and rescue
On Friday afternoon, a massive fire erupted on the container cargo vessel MV Maersk Frankfurt off the coast of Betul, Goa. Tragically, one crew member from the Philippines lost his life. The ship, en route from Mundra port to Colombo, was carrying 21 crew members, including nationals from the Philippines, Montenegro, and Ukraine.
The fire is believed to have started due to a short circuit and quickly spread, causing explosions in the front part of the ship, which was carrying International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG). The ship's crew initially tried to control the blaze but were unable to contain it. Out of 160 containers, 20 were reported to be on fire.
The Indian Coast Guard was alerted when the crew could not douse the flames. Deputy Inspector General Manoj Bhatia confirmed that three Coast Guard ships equipped with firefighting tools were dispatched to the scene. Additionally, a helicopter from the Kochi base was requested for evacuation efforts.
The Indian Navy’s Maritime Operations Centre and the Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region were informed. Navy ships near Karwar were put on standby, and a Dornier aircraft, along with an Emergency Towing Vessel from Mumbai Port, were sent to assist. Despite the ongoing firefighting operations, containers on deck continued to explode.
The vessel is approximately 80 nautical miles from the Indian coast, and efforts to control the fire and secure the ship are in full swing.