Three people are missing after an explosion on a Shipping Corp of India VLCC off the coast of Muscat, the company has confirmed.
Four crew members from the 316,000-dwt Desh Vaibhav (built 2005) are said to have jumped into the water following the fire, Platts reported earlier today.
In a statement SCI said one seafarer had suffered burns and had been evacuated by helicopter. The remaining crew are believed to have left the ship on a lifeboat.
SCI said the ship was hit by an explosion in one of her cargo tanks this morning while en route Fujairah in the UAE.
"Assistance has been sought from the Oman Royal Navy and other ships in the vicinity," the shipowner said.
The company said the flames have since subsided and a fire fighting vessel is expected to reach the tanker shortly to cool down the tanks.
Salvage sources indicated several leading names in the market are bidding to assist the tanker.
A number of merchant ships in the vicinity are also set to join the rescue effort.
A tanker owner told Platts the tanker is unladen, meaning a spill is unlikely.
The tanker is one of five VLCCs in the fleet of State-owned SCI, which is also active in the suezmax and aframax sectors of the crude business.
A spokesperson for SCI declined to comment on any further details when contacted by TradeWinds today.
