Coast Guard helps fight merchant ship fire off Sri Lanka

Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Shoor has helped fight and control fire that broke out aboard Panama-flagged container vessel MSC Daniella off Sri Lanka's coast, an official statement sad on Wednesday.

According to the Coast Guard, the Indian High Commission in Colombo informed it around 20.30 p.m. on Tuesday about the Sri Lankan Navy's request for assistance in extinguishing the fire that borke out on board MV MSC Daniella.

The merchant vessel reported the fire around 11 a.m. 120 nautical miles (around 216 km) west of Colombo while on transit from Singapore to Suez.

"ICGS Shoor, which was on overseas deployment at Colombo, was sailed immediately to render assistance... The ship also maintained constant communication with the master of the distressed vessel to ensure safety of the crew and the vessel," the statement said.

ICGS Shoor reached the site around 11 p.m. and started the firefighting operations.

"The distressed ship failed to douse fire on its self and moved towards the closest coast. The vessel anchored at 11 nautical miles off Colombo where Shoor began dousing the fire," Indian Coast Guard officials said.

"The vessel was carrying dangerous cargo and hence utmost caution was exercised in firefighting to ensure safety of the crew and the vessel," it said.

The fire on the port (left) side of the vessel has been doused and firefight is continuing on the star board (right) side of the vessel using external firefighting system, using water cannons mixed with foam to smother the fire.

The 25-member mixed nationality crew of MSC Daniella is safe, the statement said.

The Indian naval ships -- INS Gharial and INS Darshak -- also joined the operation on Tuesday night.

--IANS

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