Indian Coast Guard Battles Major Fire on Merchant Vessel Near Karwar Coast

The Indian Coast Guard has been engaged in firefighting operations for over 12 hours to control a major fire on a merchant vessel off the Karwar coast in Karnataka. The vessel, carrying hazardous materials and traveling from Mundra to Colombo, caught fire about 102 nautical miles southwest of Goa.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has been involved in efforts to extinguish a major fire on a merchant vessel for more than 12 hours, off the coast of Karwar in Karnataka. The three ICG ships—Sujeet, Sachet, and Samrat—are currently part of the firefighting operation.

The fire, which started on a hazardous-material-laden ship, originated around 102 nautical miles southwest of Goa. On Saturday morning, the ICG announced via its X handle that the ships have been battling the fire to prevent its spread, and as of 0700 hrs on July 20, the vessel was 6.5 nautical miles south of Karwar. An ICG Dornier aircraft is making an aerial assessment, while another aircraft from Kochi has been deployed for search and rescue operations.

The merchant vessel, traveling from Mundra to Colombo, was reportedly carrying International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) cargo. Explosions have been occurring on the front part of the vessel. The ETV Water Lily departed from Mumbai on July 19 and is expected to arrive at the scene by July 21 for additional assistance.