Indian Coast Guard Battles Fire on MV Maersk Frankfurt in Arabian Sea
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has been working tirelessly for five days to ensure the safety of the MV Maersk Frankfurt and its crew amidst extreme weather in the Arabian Sea. A major fire has been controlled, but minor fires persist due to the contents inside the containers.
Efforts to Combat the Fire
ICGS Samudra Prahari, a specialized Pollution Control Vessel, and ICGS Sachet, an advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel, are currently combating these small fires. Their efforts are supported by Albattros 5, an Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV), and Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) Water Lily.
Preventing Marine Pollution
ICG is also conducting aerial assessments as needed. To prevent marine pollution and protect the Indian coastline, the vessel is being kept 13 nautical miles west of New Mangalore and is heading towards the open sea.
Salvage Operations
The ship managers, Bernhard Schulte Ship Management (Hong Kong) Ltd, have contracted SMIT Salvers to undertake salvage operations. An initial team of four members, including one Indian and three Filipinos, has been facilitated by the ICG. Two Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels are expected to arrive soon to assist in the operations.
Global Maritime Challenge
Firefighting on container vessels is a significant challenge for the global maritime community. The salvage team’s role is crucial in sustaining the efforts made by the ICG to completely extinguish the fire.
Doubts Revealed
Indian Coast Guard -: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is a branch of India’s armed forces that protects the country’s maritime interests and enforces maritime law.
MV Maersk Frankfurt -: MV Maersk Frankfurt is a large cargo ship that carries goods across the sea. ‘MV’ stands for ‘Motor Vessel’.
Arabian Sea -: The Arabian Sea is a region of the northern Indian Ocean, located between India and the Arabian Peninsula.
specialized vessels -: Specialized vessels are ships designed for specific tasks, like firefighting or rescue operations.
aerial assessments -: Aerial assessments involve using aircraft, like helicopters or drones, to observe and evaluate a situation from the sky.
salvage operations -: Salvage operations are efforts to save a ship, its cargo, and crew from danger, especially after an accident or disaster.
international assistance -: International assistance means help coming from other countries to deal with a problem or emergency.
