A fire that erupted on the container ship M V Mayarisk Frankfurt in the Arabian Sea, 30 nautical miles from Mangaluru, has finally been extinguished after a week. The vessel, which was carrying dangerous goods of category 4 to Colombo, caught fire on July 19, with explosions occurring at the front side.
The coast guard responded swiftly, deploying vessels and helicopters to battle the blaze, using large amounts of dry chemical powder to douse the flames. The old airport in the city served as a temporary base for the coast guard operations. Despite the fire, the vessel continued sailing, and coast guard teams sprayed chemicals while it was moving.
The vessel is now headed towards Colombo, and all 21 crew members are safe and unharmed. The fire, caused by an electrical short circuit, did not compromise the vessel’s stability. All navigation and other equipment are functioning properly.
Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan reassured the public, stating, “As the vessel is sailing at a distance of 30 nautical miles from the city, there is no danger to the beach areas of the city. There is no reason for the public to panic. The coast guard, NMPT, and district administration are prepared to face any eventuality.”
The M V Mayarisk Frankfurt had left Mundra port on July 17 and was en route to Colombo when the incident occurred. The vessel is now continuing its journey towards Colombo.