Fire on Maersk Frankfurt results in crew member fatality

A fire on the container vessel Maersk Frankfurt has resulted in the death of one crew member and ongoing smoke and small fires approximately 17 miles from Karwar, according to the Indian Coast Guard. The fire, which has been burning for the past 24 hours, is suspected to have started due to a short circuit and subsequently spread to cargo classified as International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) on board.

Coast guard ships Sachet, Sujeet, and Samrat are actively engaged in firefighting operations to control the blaze. There were 21 crew members on board when the fire started, followed by explosions. The deceased crew member was Filipino. No Indian crew members were on the vessel.

The Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) Water Lily is expected to arrive shortly, along with the specialized pollution control vessel ICGS Samudra Prahari.

“The fire in the forepart of the vessel has been suppressed, but heavy smoke continues to emanate. Unfortunately, the fire has reignited in the midship area,” stated a Coast Guard officer. “Continuous efforts are being made to control and extinguish the fire,” the officer added.

A Coast Guard Dornier aircraft and an advanced light helicopter conducted aerial assessments, leading to the decision to deploy Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) to completely douse the fire. The Coast Guard district headquarters in Goa will supply the DCP bags and balls for firefighting operations.

“At present, there is no requirement for the evacuation of the crew. The master of the vessel has indicated that anchoring is not feasible due to the inaccessibility of the forecastle area, which has been compromised by melting containers, posing significant risks to the crew,” said the Coast Guard official.

The vessel has been advised to alter its course away from land. The prevailing south-westerly winds and heavy swells present challenges to firefighting operations. An additional Coast Guard aircraft has been positioned from Kochi to Goa to support search and rescue (SAR) operations and manage further contingencies. Continuous monitoring and response efforts are underway.