Cargo carrier structurally stable and operational after fire: Coast Guard
Indian Coast Guard carries out fire-fighting operations on m.v. Maersk Frankfurt off Goa coast.PTI
THE HINDU BUREAU
NEW DELHI
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has deployed five ships, two helicopters, and one Dornier aircraft for rescue operations over 10 days after m.v. Maersk Frankfurt, a Panamanian flag cargo carrier, reported a major fire on July 19.
The owners of the vessel have contracted a specialised salvage agency to take over firefighting efforts and for further disposal of the vessel while salvors and ocean-going tugs have already been roped in, the ICG said on Sunday.
The fire broke out around 80 nautical miles west of Goa, with the ICG launching rescue efforts under ‘Operation Sahayata’.
“Further, ICG specialised pollution response team is on standby since the commencement of operations, in coordination with stakeholders, to effect suitable response in an unlikely event of oil spill. However, ICG’s pollution preventive stance has ensured that no risk exists to the marine environment and coastal areas of Karnataka from the fire onboard MV Maersk Frankfurt,” the ICG said in a statement.
Infrared imagery has revealed reduction in hotspots and smouldering is primarily restricted to “Bay 18 starboard side”, it added.
The ICG ships are undertaking boundary cooling efforts and extinguishing sporadic minor flames that erupt from time to time due to the initial incineration of sealed containers, it said. More than 1,200 kg of dry chemical powder has been airdropped at the area of fire so far. Of the 21 foreign crew, one Filipino national is missing, while others are safe and in good health, the ICG said. “The vessel is structurally stable and remains operational.”
The ICG has had two meetings with Director-General, Shipping, the State administration, stakeholders, ports, salvage agency, ship owners and management to review the progress and find an early end to the crisis.
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Explanatory notes …
Cargo .. It means the goods and materials carried by a truck, aeroplane or a ship or even a large boat.
Coast Guard .. It’s a naval force that protects the interest of a country to a certain distance into the sea. For example. If we stand in Konark beech, India’s Exclusive Economic Zone extends till 200 nautical miles (equal to 200 X 1.852 = 370.4 Kilometers). All items like fishes, underwater crude oil, minerals in the sea floor are India’s property. No foreign vessel can enter this Exclusive Economic Zone to catch fishes or take away any material. If they do, Indian Coast Guard’s ships will attack it and seize their vessels and arrest the crew.
The other functions of the Indian Coast Guard is to prevent pollution, save ships facing danger, and guard against the entry of foreign boats who carry drugs, and arms.
The Cost Guard is very similar to the Indian Navy, but possesses smaller ships that can travel at high speeds, smaller arms, and smaller helicopters.
In contrast, Indian Navy has much bigger and powerful ships that can operate, submarines, aircrafts, guns, rockets etc. that can operate thousands of kilometers away from the Indian coast.
In a nutshell, Indian Coast Guard is the younger brother of Indian Navy.
Structurally stable and operational .. It means the main steel body of the carrier (cargo ship) is sound and safe without zany cracks. It can sail in sea without any risk.
m.v. Maersk Frankfurt ,, Every ship has a name. In this case, the name of the affected ship is m.v. Maersk Frankfurt
Containers .. Every exporter or importer wants its materials to remain fresh, safe, and secure. So they pack their items in large containers which are similar to the steel trunks we use at home. The difference is the size. A container is double the size of our living rooms and are made with thick steel plates. Once the goods are kept inside it, no one can pilfer it.
Container ship .. These are ships specially designed to carry contaimers. Just as we keep one trunk over another, containers are kept one over the other on ships. Cranes are used to stack the containers in an orderly manner.
Panamanian flag .. Just as we register our cars, motor cycles, trucks etc. in an RTO office and get a registration certificate, in the same way, all ships are registered with one country or the other. Panama is a very small country that charges the least as registration fee. So, many ships belonging to different countries get their ships registered with Panama. The ship flies the Panamanian flag.
Specialized salvage agency .. When ships are damaged during their voyage either by fire, natural causes or pirate attacks etc., the owners of the ship contact a salvage agency to do whatever action is needed. They could bring the ship to a port, repair it, hand it back to the owner or hust sell it through auction. In this case, the owners of m.v. Maersk Frankfurt have entrusted the salvage operations to one such agency. The Indian Coast Guard’s responsibility ends when the salvage agency takes over the charge.
Indian Coast Guard’s pollution fighting operations .. Many times, giant ships carrying crude oil catch fire. The crude oil from the ship pours out into the sea water causing massive pollution till hundreds of miles from the accident spot. The black sticky crude oil often reaches the seashore damaging the beeches. Fishes, birds, and marine animals die in large numbers. Ships carrying dangerous chemicals in containers also might cause similar danger when the ship suffers fire damage.
To control and fight such pollution, the Indian Coast Guard has a pollution fighting arm with ships, engineers, and equipment. In the present case, such a team was deployed to the spot.
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Acknowledgement .. The news item appeared in The Hindu dated July 29, 2024. The image is taken from elsewhere.