Inferno on Maersk Frankfurt claims life! Indian Coast Guard’s massive operation underway

One crew member aboard the Maersk Frankfurt has tragically died as a fire continues to rage on the cargo vessel, located approximately 65 kilometers southwest of Mangalore, Karnataka. For over 40 hours, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has been at the forefront of firefighting efforts, deploying ships and helicopters to combat the blaze.

As of Sunday afternoon, the Indian Coast Guard has deployed five vessels—Samrat, Sujeet, Sachet, Varaha, and Samudra Prahari—to battle the fire, which has spread to various parts of the Maersk Frankfurt. The vessel is transporting International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) from Mundra, Gujarat, to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Despite some reduction in the fire’s intensity, heavy smoke continues to hinder visibility. The fire, which broke out around 5 PM Indian Standard Time on Friday, July 19, has severely impacted the containers on the right side of the ship.

An Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH Mk3) is assisting the firefighting efforts by dropping packets of Dry Chemical Powder (DCP), a specialized firefighting chemical. Additionally, a Dornier short-range maritime patrol plane is monitoring the situation closely, watching for any potential oil spills from the vessel.

The MV Maersk Frankfurt has a crew of 21 members, including 17 Filipinos, two Ukrainians, one Russian, and one Montenegrin. Unfortunately, one Filipino crew member has been reported dead. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and the vessel’s 1,400 metric tons of diesel present a significant risk.

An Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) named Water Lily departed from Mumbai on Friday evening and is expected to reach the Maersk Frankfurt by Sunday evening. The vessel owner has also mobilized a salvage team to board the ship and undertake further actions. The Indian Coast Guard will collaborate with the salvage team to expedite containment and recovery operations.

To prevent environmental damage, the Indian Coast Guard has deployed the specialized Pollution Control Vessel (PCV) Samudra Prahari. PCVs are equipped to handle firefighting, oil spill response, chemical spill response, and dispersal of special chemicals to minimize the impact of at-sea spills.

This tragic incident underscores the critical importance of rapid and coordinated response in maritime emergencies. The deployment of specialized vessels and aircraft by the Indian Coast Guard exemplifies the complexity of firefighting and containment operations at sea. The potential environmental impact due to the presence of hazardous materials highlights the need for stringent safety measures and continuous monitoring.