Twenty one crew members aboard a product tanker narrowly escaped a potentially fatal maritime disaster after a major explosion and fire broke out on the vessel. The tanker, en route to Port Sohar in Oman after departing from Kandla, Gujarat at 11:00 a.m., suffered the explosion during gas-freeing operations around 1:05 p.m., according to the Directorate General of Shipping.
The emergency was first reported by a passing vessel, which spotted the blast. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) units responded swiftly, deploying two interceptor boats, the pollution control vessel to the site. The tug sent from Kandla, successfully evacuated all 21 crew members by 7:00 p.m.
Initial assessments indicated that the tanker listed 22 degrees to starboard after the explosion, later stabilizing towards port after corrective measures. Despite early reports that the situation was under control, the vessel’s master formally requested crew evacuation due to extensive structural damage.
No oil spill has been reported so far, though the ship was carrying 384.17 tonnes of fuel at the time of the accident. Experts suspect that inadequate purging during the gas-freeing process, a hazardous but routine operation to eliminate flammable vapors from tanks, may have caused a volatile air-vapour mix to accumulate.
The vessel, which previously delivered a methanol cargo to Kandla, remains afloat with no signs of water ingress. ICG vessels continue to monitor the situation closely, while surrounding maritime traffic has been advised to maintain a safe distance to avoid fire or pollution-related hazards.