The Sri Lanka Navy has released dramatic images of the rescue effort to save the 13,798 TEU MSC Daniela containership and her 21 crew members from a fire onboard the vessel.
The navy, which has released a report on the incident, said it received a distress call on Monday (April 3, 2017) some 33 nautical miles off Colombo harbour, Sri Lanka.
Two fast attack crafts (FACs) were then sent to help the vessel but “initial efforts went in vein due to the intensity of flames”.
Two Sri Lankan Port Authority tugs also joined the operation and the navy requested assistance from the Indian High Commission for support from its coast guard vessel, ICGS Shoor, berthed at the Colombo harbour.
After the ICGS Shoor was dispatched, the firefighting mission was also joined by the offshore patrol vessel SLNS Sagara.
Both Shoor and Sagara are equipped with firefighting equipment and operated by specialised firefighting personnel.
The Indian Navy also directed two of their ships to the location.
Three more FACs were then sent to evacuate the 21 crew members.
Both Sri Lanka Air Force and Indian Coast Guard helicopters oversaw the combined rescue efforts.
The Sri Lanka Navy extended its gratitude to the Indian High Commission for “their prompt response and especially the crew onboard ICGS Shoor who are extremely diligent in this challenging situation.”
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
A video was recently released which shows the APL Austria container ship being saved after it was forced to dock in South Africa when a fire started on board.
