Paradip IOCL Refinery Tanker loaded with 2 million barrels of oil catches fire off Sri Lanka
An oil tanker loaded with two million barrels of Kuwati crude sailing toward Odisha's Paradip refinery caught fire Thursday morning off Sri Lanka’s coast, raising concerns about an oil spill.
The fire in the engine room of New Diamond, a very large crude carrier, was caused by an explosion, said Sri Lanka Navy spokesman Indika de Silva. “Fire is still in the engine room and hasn’t spread out.”
Twenty of the 23 New Diamond crew have been rescued, with two of the remaining three accounted for, while one is missing, de Silva said.
The vessel was chartered by Indian Oil Corp., a spokesman for India’s biggest state refiner said. Indian Oil operates a 15-million-ton-a-year oil refinery at Paradip in India’s eastern state of Odisha.
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Sri Lanka Navy deployed two vessels for rescue operation, Indian Coast Guard diverted three ships and an aircraft, while clean tanker Helen M has also been pressed into assistance. |