(UPDATED) MT New Diamond blaze doused; stakeholders discuss cost recovery

by Zulfick Farzan 06-09-2020 | 4:38 PM

Colombo (News 1st) The fire aboard the MT New Diamond Crude Oil Tanker was completely doused, confirmed the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne.

However, he said it cannot be assured the fire will not arise again considering the temperatures on the MT New Diamond.

Speaking to reporters following a meeting with Attorney General Dappula De Livera, the Navy Commander said the discussion was based on the recovering the cost incurred by the Sri Lankan authorities.

A decision on the matter is yet to be reached, said Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne.

"There is a possibility for the blaze to re-ignite even due to a small breeze and we cannot be certain of that as well, however, as of now, the fire was completely contained, " said the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.

On Sunday (06) afternoon, Attorney General Dappula De Livera held a meeting with the stakeholders involved in battling the blaze aboard the distressed Crude Oil Tanker, the MT New Diamond.

The Attorney General met with the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy , Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority , Director General of Merchant Shipping & Chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Authority to review & advise on issues arising from the fire on the MT New Diamond, confirmed State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General.

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority dispatched a 14 member team of professionals to the site of the distressed MT New Diamond Crude Oil Tanker.

Navy Spokesperson India De Silva said the team of professionals from SLPA would be sent to the site from Hambatota aboard a Sri Lanka Navy Fast Attack Craft.

MT New Diamond, an oil tanker sailing 38 nautical miles off Sangaman-kanda Point east of Sri Lanka issued a distress signal on3rd September 2020.

The distressed oil tanker in eastern seas was manned by 23 crew members including 5 Greeks and 18 Philippine nationals.

Further, the tanker was transporting 270,000 metric tons of crude oil from the port of Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait to the Indian port of Paradip, when it faced this unfortunate event.

It is also reported that 1700 metric tons of diesel required for the use of the tanker is also stored onboard.

MT New Diamond is a 20-year old crude oil tanker that is 333 meters long and 60 meters wide, and sailed with a Japanese certificate and is registered in Panama.