Udupi
The Indian Coast Guard has controlled the fire on the MV Maersk Frankfurt container vessel, which was about 40 nautical miles from Mangaluru. The vessel, flagged from Panama, was carrying International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) category-4 flammable solids and liquids. Officials have warned that if the fire reignites or the ship sinks, it could lead to severe marine pollution. The risk remains that the fire could cause the ship to sink and result in oil spills affecting the coasts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
The fire was first noticed on July 19 while the cargo vessel was en route from Mundra port in Gujarat to Sri Lanka. The Coast Guard Karnataka, Advanced Light Helicopter, and Samudra Prahari Pollution Control vessel were deployed to handle the situation. The ship, carrying highly flammable oil and solids, caught fire in the Arabian Sea between Goa and Karwar. It is now anchored 33 nautical miles from Surathkal, near Mangaluru’s NMPT.
The Coast Guard has advised the administrations of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada to prepare for a possible oil spill. The Indian Coast Guard has been directed to take all necessary precautions to protect the coast from potential pollution. After 40 hours, the fire was successfully extinguished. There were 21 crew members on board, with one reported missing or deceased. The Udupi district administration has alerted local authorities, and Udupi Deputy Commissioner Vidyakumari K has issued orders to handle any emergencies.
Dakshina Kannada DC Mullai Muhilan MP assured that there is no immediate threat to the Mangaluru seashore and urged the public not to panic. The district administration, supported by the Indian Coast Guard and the New Mangaluru Port Authority, is prepared to manage any potential disaster.
