On the afternoon of July 6, the Hong Kong-flagged product tanker Fulda caught fire and exploded in the waters near the Indian port of Kandla while en route to the port of Sohar in Oman.
According to the India’s Directorate General of Shipping, at 1:05 p.m. local time on July 6, the vessel Team Focus, which was near the scene of the incident, first reported to Indian authorities that the Fulda had exploded. By 7 p.m., the captain of the Fulda had formally requested evacuation. Although initial reports indicated that the situation was under control, the deteriorating conditions and severe damage to the hull prompted the captain to request immediate assistance.
At the time of the incident, there were a total of 21 crew members on board, including 11 Chinese, 2 Bangladeshi, 1 Indonesian and 7 Burmese. Fortunately, all 21 crew members were safely evacuated from the rescue tugboat “Orchid Star” dispatched from Kandla Port.
The Fulda product tanker is owned by Hong Kong-based Fulda Industrial, has a deadweight of 19,477 tons and is 26 years old. It was said to be carrying 384.17 metric tons of fuel at the time of the incident. Although no oil spill has been confirmed, comprehensive pollution prevention measures have been initiated.
The Fulda product tanker is owned by Hong Kong-based Fulda Industrial, with a deadweight of 19,477 tons and an age of 26 years. It is reported to have been carrying 384.17 metric tons of fuel at the time of the incident. Although oil pollution has not yet been confirmed, comprehensive pollution prevention measures have been initiated.
Initial investigations suggest the explosion may have been linked to improper handling of flammable vapors during a gas-freeing operations, a dangerous but routine procedure to ventilate tanks containing residual volatile gases before maintenance or loading the next cargo.
The last cargo carried by the Fulda was methanol, and inadequate flushing and exhausting may have led to the accumulation of a mixture of flammable vapors and air. Experts have pointed out that a lack of proper bonding or improper equipment maintenance could have generated static electricity, which could have ignited the mixture. The final conclusion will have to wait for the official investigation results.
To cope with the emergency, Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS C-429 and Pollution Control Vessel Samudra Pavak have been dispatched to the accident site.
According to the latest report, two Indian Coast Guard interception boats are still monitoring the Fulda, which remains afloat with no reports of water ingress.
All nearby vessels have been advised to maintain a safe distance from the Fulda to prevent the risk of fire or pollution.