22 crewmen rescued from blaze hit oil tanker off Sri Lanka

A search is on for a missing crew member - a Filipino national - after 22 others were rescued from the MT New Diamond oil tanker chartered by the Indian Oil Corporation. A fire broke out on the ship off Sri Lanka's eastern coast on Friday.

New Delhi: Twenty-two out of 23 crew members have been rescued from the oil tanker 'MT New Diamond' off the east coast of Sri Lanka. The Indian Coast Guard and ships from the Sri Lankan navy engaged a blaze that broke out on the ship on Friday.

Search for one missing crewman - a Filipino national - is underway, according to the Indian Coast Guard.

The rescue mission is being jointly conducted by the Indian Coast Guard, the Sri Lankan Navy and two emergency towing vessels deployed by India.

In a tweet on Friday, ICG said, "Concerted joint #SAR & #FireFighting efforts by ICG Ships, SL Navy & tugs resulted in rescue of 22 out of 23 crew safely. Search for 01 missing crew (Filipino) in progress. No oil spill reported in area. 02 Emergency Towing Vessels being deployed by GoI for #MTNewDiamond."

• Concerted joint #SAR & #FireFighting efforts by ICG Ships, SL Navy & tugs resulted in rescue of 22 out of 23 crew safely. Search for 01 missing crew (Filipino) in progress. No oil spill reported in area. 02 Emergency Towing Vessels being deployed by GoI for #MTNewDiamond. pic.twitter.com/bjqMsQkio9

  — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 4, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Concerted joint #SAR & #FireFighting efforts by ICG Ships, SL Navy & tugs resulted in rescue of 22 out of 23 crew safely. Search for 01 missing crew (Filipino) in progress. No oil spill reported in area. 02 Emergency Towing Vessels being deployed by GoI for #MTNewDiamond. pic.twitter.com/bjqMsQkio9

  — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 4, 2020

  ">

  Concerted joint #SAR & #FireFighting efforts by ICG Ships, SL Navy & tugs resulted in rescue of 22 out of 23 crew safely. Search for 01 missing crew (Filipino) in progress. No oil spill reported in area. 02 Emergency Towing Vessels being deployed by GoI for #MTNewDiamond. pic.twitter.com/bjqMsQkio9

  — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 4, 2020

The Coast Guard had earlier said that after Sri Lankan Navy sought their assistance for the firefight, it immediately diverted ICG Ship Shaurya, besides a Dornier aircraft for the oil tanker MT New Diamond. "#FireFighting in progress in consultation with Master of #MTNewDiamond onboard #ICG ship Shaurya along with Tug APL Winger. Additional #ICG ship Ameya & Abheek being deployed #today in PR configuration to augment efforts. 02 CG Dornier aircraft also being deployed for air efforts," ICG tweeted.

• #FireFighting in progress in consultation with Master of #MTNewDiamond onboard #ICG ship Shaurya along with Tug APL Winger.Additional #ICG ship Ameya & Abheek being deployed #today in PR configuration to augment efforts. 02 CG Dornier aircraft also being deployed for air efforts pic.twitter.com/bAPC3a0eSe

  — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 4, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  #FireFighting in progress in consultation with Master of #MTNewDiamond onboard #ICG ship Shaurya along with Tug APL Winger.Additional #ICG ship Ameya & Abheek being deployed #today in PR configuration to augment efforts. 02 CG Dornier aircraft also being deployed for air efforts pic.twitter.com/bAPC3a0eSe

  — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 4, 2020

  ">

  #FireFighting in progress in consultation with Master of #MTNewDiamond onboard #ICG ship Shaurya along with Tug APL Winger.Additional #ICG ship Ameya & Abheek being deployed #today in PR configuration to augment efforts. 02 CG Dornier aircraft also being deployed for air efforts pic.twitter.com/bAPC3a0eSe

  — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 4, 2020

Earlier this morning, ICG fire fighting ships successfully doused a fire after assistance was sought by the Sri Lankan Navy following an explosion onboard the oil tanker 'MT NewDiamond' 37 nautical miles east off Sri Lanka coast.

• #FireFighting #ICG ships successfully doused fire in accommodation area. #ICG ship Shaurya continuously fighting fire with 03 tugs engaged in boundary cooling. 02 mtrs crack observed near Port aft portion 10 mtrs above waterline. pic.twitter.com/jQLGPq1Fpf

  — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 4, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  #FireFighting #ICG ships successfully doused fire in accommodation area. #ICG ship Shaurya continuously fighting fire with 03 tugs engaged in boundary cooling. 02 mtrs crack observed near Port aft portion 10 mtrs above waterline. pic.twitter.com/jQLGPq1Fpf

  — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 4, 2020

  ">

  #FireFighting #ICG ships successfully doused fire in accommodation area. #ICG ship Shaurya continuously fighting fire with 03 tugs engaged in boundary cooling. 02 mtrs crack observed near Port aft portion 10 mtrs above waterline. pic.twitter.com/jQLGPq1Fpf

  — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 4, 2020

"Fire fighting ICG ships successfully doused the fire in the accommodation area. ICG ship Shaurya continuously fighting fire with three tugs engaged in boundary cooling. Two meters crack observed near Port after portion 10 meters above the waterline," ICG had informed via tweet.

(ANI Report)