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OP Sahayta enters day 10 of firefighting and remedial pollution operation for MV MAERSK Frankfurt by ICG

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New Delhi, 28 Jul 24: The efforts to protect our environmentally sensitive coastline have entered the 10th day with Indian Coast Guard undertaking firefighting and instituting pollution preventive measures. ICG ships are undertaking boundary cooling and extinguishing sporadic minor flames that erupt from time to time due to the initial incineration of sealed containers.

MV Maersk Frankfurt, a Panamanian flag cargo carrier, reported major fire around 80 Nm West of Goa on 19 July 2024. ICG assets both at sea and air were tasked to undertake fire fighting efforts and aid the distressed vessel. Of the 21 foreign crew, 01 Filipino national is missing. Others remain safe and are in good health. The vessel is structurally stable and remains operational.

As of now, 05 ICG ships, 02 ALH helicopters and 01 Dornier aircraft have undertaken multiple sorties as part of Operation ‘Sahayata’. More than 1200 Kgs of Dry Chemical powder has been airdropped at seat of fire.

Operation Sahayata was launched with commencement of firefighting operations by Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (West), based at Mumbai, to save lives onboard the vessel, ensure safety of property and safeguard our marine environment from any after effects of the fire onboard the cargo carrier. ICG has repositioned ICG Ship SamudraPrahari, a specialised pollution control vessel, since the commencement of Op Sahayata to New Mangalore to take corrective measure in an unlikely case of pollution. The specialised vessel is also equipped with Dynamic Positioning System which enables it to engage in fire fighting at very close distance from the cargo carrier.

ICG has also undertaken 02 coordination meetings with DG Shipping, state administration, stakeholders, ports, salvage agency, ship owners and management to review the progress and find an early end to the crisis. The outlook remains positive and presently, the situation is under control and riskto the marine environment and coastal areas does not exist. The vessel has both power and propulsion and is being kept at a distance of more than 24 Nautical miles (India’s Contiguous zone limit) at all times. ICG is maintaining physical presence at site with at least 02 Offshore patrol vessels engaged in firefighting and Op coordination 24×7.

Further, ICG specialised Pollution Response Team, is standby since the commencement of Operations, in coordination with stakeholders, to effect suitable response in an unlikely event of oil spill. However, ICG’s pollution preventive stance has ensured that no risk exists to the marine environment and coastal areas of Karnataka from the fire onboard MV Maersk Frankfurt.

The Owners/DPA of the vessel has contracted a specialised salvage agency to take over firefighting efforts and for further disposal of the vessel. ICG received request to facilitate embarkation of the salvors onboard the distressed vessel. As of today, 05 salvors are onboard the vessel and the agency has mobilised 02 Ocean going tugs, Albattros 5 and MahaWewa to supplement ICG efforts. ETV Water Lily, under contract with DG Shipping is also at scene, aiding fire fighting efforts. Further, Tug Creative-I with specialised tools and additional salvors is expected to reach the distressed vessel around noon today. Another AHTS vessel Valiant has departed Sharjah and is likely to join the efforts by 30 Juy 2024.

The salvors have requested ICG assistance for 04-05 days more prior taking over the operation completely. Search for the missing crew will be undertaken after analysis of the atmosphere at the containers by a Marine Chemist. Infra-red imagery has revealed reduction in hotspots and smouldering is primarily restricted to ‘Bay 18’ starboard side. The vessel is presently 50 Nautical miles South West off New Mangalore and at distance of more than 37 Nautical miles from shore. Vessel is being maintained Off New Mangalore as the port is base of Operations for both ICG and the salvors. The salvors/DPA are attempting to find a port of refuge for the vessel post completion of firefighting efforts.

Sea/ weather conditions remained challenging and have exacted professional skills and dedication from the ICG team to control the fire and prevent an ecological disaster of unfathomable scale. ICG is standing guard and will endeavour to end the ongoing operation at an early date. With improvement in sea conditions expected soon, the efforts to eliminate the fire are expected to receive a major boost.

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