The container fire on the Maersk Frankfurt, a newly built containership chartered to Maersk, continues after 10 days of firefighting. The crew and the Indian Coast Guard are leading efforts, with specialists now arriving to help off the West Coast of India.
The Indian Coast Guard was notified of the fire on July 19 while the 5,920 TEU Maersk Frankfurt (76,000 dwt) was traveling south from India to Sri Lanka. The vessel was located about 100 nautical miles north of Goa. It is now approximately 35 nautical miles offshore, south of Kasaragod, India, with the Coast Guard having directed the vessel further offshore into deeper waters. The current location is about 50 nautical miles south of New Mangalore, which is the base of operations.
The Coast Guard reports deploying five vessels, two helicopters, and a Dornier aircraft in the firefighting efforts. Over 1,200 kg of dry chemical powder has been air-dropped into the fire area, but some hotspots remain. Two Coast Guard vessels are alongside, spraying millions of gallons of water on the fire and cooling the area, while the primary fire has reportedly been extinguished.
Smoke continues to rise from the site, with photos showing stacks of boxes that seem to have collapsed. Reports from Indian media indicate that infra-red images showed fewer hotspots, with the fire mainly around Bay 18 on the starboard side. The cause of the ongoing fire is unclear, but the cargo manifest indicates that dangerous materials are on board, including chemicals like benzene and sodium cyanate.
The Coast Guard also helped five salvors board the Maersk Frankfurt. The vessel’s owners, a Japanese company, have hired a specialized salvage agency to manage firefighting and disposal efforts, and they have already declared General Averages for the shippers.
Three tugs are in the area assisting and transporting equipment to the vessel. An additional tug was expected on Sunday, July 28, and by July 30, a larger offshore vessel, the AHTS Valiant, is anticipated to arrive from Sharjah, India.
The Coast Guard stated that despite challenging conditions, the situation remains under control. One crew member died in the early stages of the fire, but the remaining crew is safe aboard the vessel. The Indian Coast Guard will continue to support the salvors until all their vessels and equipment are on scene.
