Oman-bound tanker vessel explodes off Kandla coast, all 21 crew rescued safely

An explosion was reported on an Oman-bound tanker vessel after it completed methanol discharge at Deendayal Port in Gujarat’s Kandla.

As per reports, 21 crew members onboard the tanker vessel were evacuated by the rescue team.

While the vessel was heading towards the Outer Tuna buoy in Kandla, after unloading chemicals at Kandla’s Deendayal Port, a sudden blast was reported.

The port authorities and the Coast Guard team rushed to the spot, as per reports. All 21 crew members on board were safely rescued. However, the cause of the blast on the ship is still unknown.

In a similar incident in June, MSC Elsa-3, which was en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi, reportedly carrying diesel, bunker oil, calcium carbide, and plastic nurdles, capsized in Indian territorial waters.

The spill triggered widespread concern over marine pollution and the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities.

In the same month, Singapore-flagged cargo vessel WAN HAI 503 caught fire about 70 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. The 270-metre-long vessel, with a draught of 12.5 metres, had departed Colombo on June 7 and was en route to Mumbai.

The Indian Navy, in a closely coordinated Search And Rescue(SAR) operation with the Indian Coast Guard, DG Shipping and other stakeholders, safely rescued 18 out of 22 crew members.

According to the spokesperson of the Indian Navy, the vessel had reported an internal container explosion, and resultant major fire onboard.