A severe fire broke out on the Maersk Frankfurt, a container ship chartered by AP Moller-Maersk, at around 2:30 PM IST on July 19, off India, while en route from Mundra to Colombo.
The fire, reportedly caused by a short circuit and exacerbated by explosions on the front deck, has proven difficult to control. Tragically, one crew member has died in the incident, while the remaining 20 crew members are safe and accounted for.
#ICG OP to make safe MV #MaerskFrankfurt enters day 03 ! @IndiaCoastGuard Ship Varaha has joined #firefighting efforts earlier today. 04 #OPV 01 #Dornier and 01 #ALH engaged in OP ensuring protection of the marine environment, #Safety of the vessel and her crew! Dedicated… pic.twitter.com/To3AQH3cX2
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) July 21, 2024
Efforts to extinguish the fire have included air-dropping 150 kg of dry chemical powder. However, the flames have prevented access to certain areas, including where the deceased crew member’s body is located. It is anticipated that it will take up more days to fully put out the fire.
