The blaze on an X-Press Feeders boxship off Sri Lanka appears to be out of control again after an explosion rocked the vessel.
The Sri Lanka Navy said last Tuesday's blast was reported from inside the 2,743-teu X-Press Pearl (built 2021), which is carrying 25 tonnes of nitric acid.
Eight containers have fallen into the sea and new photos from the Sri Lanka Air Force show flames erupting from the vessel and black smoke billowing upwards in a tall plume.
All 25 crew have been evacuated safely from the boxship, which is at anchorage 18 km (11 miles) off Colombo, according to navy spokesperson Captain Indika de Silva.
The fire broke out on Thursday in a container on deck and seemed to be under control over the weekend.
However, the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) said the situation is worsening.
Dharshani Lahandapura, MEPA chair, said ocean currents had escalated the crisis.
"The distressed X-Press Pearl is now in a critical situation, where the fire is increasing due to the strong winds," she said.
Seven of the lost containers have now sunk, she added.
Stay away
Lahandapura warned people to stay away from the site.
She added: "Also, if you see any kind of objects reaching the shores, don't go closer, don't open anything and don't touch anything, because we do not know what types of material and goods are inside the containers."
In its last update on Monday, operator X-Press Feeders said fire and smoke were still seen on board, "but is currently under control".
"More firefighting tugs have been deployed and they will continue to fight the fire," the company added.
A salvage team led by Smit was on board at that time.
Specialist firefighting equipment had been due to arrive on Tuesday.
Hope remains
"We therefore remain hopeful that the fire will be put out by the salvage team at the soonest time possible," the company said.
The ship is deployed in the Straits Middle East SMX service.
The Singapore-flagged vessel has 1,486 containers on board, including the nitric acid and other chemicals and cosmetics.
The ship had arrived from the port of Hazira, India, on 19 May.
The X-Press Pearl's crew are from the Philippines, China, India and Russia.
The sub-panamax ship was ordered for $30m in 2018 and is now worth $45m, according to VesselsValue.
It has protection and indemnity cover through the London P&I Club.
