Ship catches fire off Goa coast
HERALD REPORTER
VASCO, MARCH 27
Twenty-three crew were rescued in a joint operation by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and merchant ships, when a major fire broke out in the engine room of the container cargo ship Maersk Miami about 43 nautical miles off the Goa coast on Friday evening.
According to Defense Ministry Public Relations Officer Captain Manohar Nambiar, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) vessel Subahdra Kumari Chauhan was on patrol off Tarapur (Maharashtra coast), when it learnt of the distress vessel Maersk Miami on Friday at about 7.30 pm, which was heading towards JNPT port in Mumbai.
The ICG regional headquarters (west) immediately alerted its counter part in Goa, besides naval authorities at Mumbai and Goa and subsequently the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Mumbai and also alerted merchant ships plying in the vicinity for assistance.
In a swift operation, the Indian Navy immediately sailed with a medical team from Goa and diverted two naval ships in the area to render assistance. The ICG Goa region also diverted an interceptor boats C-133 and ICG ship Samraat to render assistance, while merchant vessels Aranda Colossus and Chimes passing the area were also diverted to the site by MRCC.
All crew in the ill-fated ship escaped unhurt and the fire was extinguished after about six hours of the incident. The ICG vessel Samraat safely transferred the rescued crew on Maersk Dauphin and Nedllyod Africa, sister ships of the Maersk Miami.
The owner of ‘Maersk Miami’ has dispatched two ocean tugs to assist in the salvage operation.
Meanwhile, the marine fraternity has appreciated the prompt action by the defense and merchant ships involved in rescue operations.
