The merchant vessel Orchids, a tanker bound for Cochin Port from New Mangalore with gasoline, is set to resume its voyage, after the fire on board the ship was extinguished.
The tanker was about 40 nautical miles off the Kannur coast in north Kerala when a fire broke out in its engine room.
“The fire on board the ship was immediately doused. There was no fuel or gasoline spill, nor any casualty. The vessel is seaworthy and the crew members are safe. So it will continue to sail to Kochi,” a senior Coast Guard functionary told The Hindu .
Soon after the fire accident was reported on Saturday night, the Coast Guard mobilised two of its fast patrol vessels (FPV) from New Mangalore while its offshore patrol vessel Varuna, which was also on patrol, was diverted to carry out damage control and rescue operations.
“The tanker is well out of danger now. However, we have asked our ship Annie Besant to monitor the situation for some more time,” said the Coast Guard officer.
