A multinational naval task force continued to fight the blaze on New Shipping’s 300,000-dwt New Diamond (built 2000) overnight, with Sri Lankan authorities confirming that one crew member had died.
The latest reports indicate that preparations are being made to tow the tanker further offshore.
The Sri Lanka Navy said on Friday morning that “preliminary information from the ship's crew confirmed that a Filipino seaman onboard had died in a boiler explosion”.
All remaining 22 crew members from the New Diamond have been accounted for and rescued.
One seafarer, said to be the third engineer, was transferred to a hospital in Sri Lanka after sustaining injuries. He was said to be “returning to stable condition as of now”.
The fully laden crude carrier caught fire on Thursday morning 70km (38 nautical miles) off the coast of Sri Lanka after what naval officials have described as an explosion of a boiler in the main engine room.
Multinational firefighting effort
Harbour tugs, coastguard ships and naval vessels from Sri Lanka, India and Russia have taken part in the ongoing battle to prevent what has the potential to be a major environmental disaster.
They were joined overnight by an ALP Maritime Services' anchor handling tug supply vessel, the 19,000-bhp ALP Winger (built 2007). Navy officials said the AHTS was dispatched to the scene by New Shipping.
“The distressed oil tanker is now at sea at a depth of 3,100 metres, about 25 nautical miles off the shore by 5am this morning,” the Sri Lanka Navy said early on Friday morning.
“The superstructure at the rear of the ship is still on fire and it has not affected the ship's crude storage area. After having studied the structure of the ship, the firefighting will be carried out by naval teams with expertise in maritime firefighting with the consultation of the Greek captain of the ship.”
Helicopters are also being used to fight the fire.
At noon, the Sri Lanka Navy said the spread of fire from the superstructure at the rear of the ship towards the cargo tanks had been "contained to a greater extent".
Arrangements are being made for the ALP Winger and two Hambantota International Port Group harbour tugs to tow the New Diamond further away from the coast.
The navy said the was still no risk of the ship leaking oil.
“The Sri Lanka Navy, the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the Marine Environment Protection Authority and other stakeholders are geared up to take necessary steps to mitigate and manage the risk of possible oil spill in future due to this disaster,” the navy said.
The New Diamond was heading to Paradip in eastern India from Mina Al Ahmandi in Kuwait on charter to Indian Oil Corp.
The ship is classed by Japan’s ClassNK, and is covered by the West of England protection and indemnity club.
