Three seafarers are missing with one other person suffering burns after an explosion on the tanker vessel M.T. Desh Vaibhav on August 14 off the Oman coast, according to a statement from the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI).
The incident took place at 9.35 am India Standard Time (IST) while the M.T. Desh Vaibhav was travelling to Fujairah, UAE, when one of its cargo tankers exploded.
The area is one of the busiest oil shipping routes in the world with several countries in the region, such as the UAE and Oman, trying to position themselves as trading hubs.
The cause of the explosion is still unknown.
SCI confirmed the incident by sending a memo to the Bombay Stock Exchange and then released a statement.
The statement read: “SCI’s tanker vessel, M.T. ‘Desh Vaibhav’ on her way to Fujairah, UAE, reportedly suffered an explosion in one of her cargo tanks at around 0935 hours IST on 14th August 2018, off Oman coast. 3 personnel are reported missing. One other person with burns is being evacuated by helicopter.
“Assistance has been sought from the Oman Royal Navy and other ships in the vicinity. As per latest status, the fire has subsided and a fire fighting vessel is expected to reach the vessel shortly to cool down the tanks.”
The company declined to comment further but said it would be releasing an update soon.
Read more:
-
India has signed an MoU with the UAE in a deal that could raise $20 billion over the next 20 years
-
The India Coast Guard has saved all2 seafarers from the general cargo vessel SSL Kolkata after it caught fire
