Cargo Ship Catches Fire Off Goa, Coast Guard Initiates Rescue Effort

A major fire broke out on a container cargo ship about 102 nautical miles southwest of Goa on Friday evening, causing explosions at the front of the vessel. The ship was traveling from Mundra port in Gujarat to Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The Coast Guard has launched firefighting efforts to prevent an ecological disaster and ensure the safety of the ship and its crew. They received a distress call from the MV Maersk Frankfurt about 50 nautical miles off Karwar, reporting the fire.

A Coast Guard ship was immediately sent to help, and an ICG Dornier aircraft was launched for an aerial assessment. The ship is carrying dangerous goods, which have been exploding at the front of the vessel. Despite rough seas and bad weather, the Coast Guard ship has reached the area and is fighting the fire. Two more Coast Guard ships have been dispatched from Goa to assist in the efforts. The crew has been reassured of their safety, and additional aircraft are being mobilized to support the rescue and firefighting operations.