Blast rocks Hong Kong-flagged vessel off Gujarat coast; 21 crew evacuated

Kandla: A major maritime incident unfolded near Kandla Port on Sunday afternoon when the Hong Kong-flagged product tanker MV Fulda experienced a fire and explosion while heading to Port Sohar, Oman. The blast, which occurred during gas-freeing operations, led to the emergency evacuation of all 21 crew members and triggered a large-scale response from Indian maritime authorities.

According to the Directorate General of Shipping, the explosion was first reported around 1:05 PM IST by a nearby vessel, Team Focus. Fulda, a 26-year-old tanker that had departed Kandla earlier at 11:00 AM IST, developed a 22-degree list to starboard, which later shifted to port as the crew attempted to stabilize the vessel. By 7:00 PM IST, the ship’s master requested full evacuation. All 21 crew members — comprising 11 Chinese, two Bangladeshi, one Indonesian, and seven Myanmarese nationals — were safely rescued by the tug Orchid Star, dispatched from Kandla.

The 19,477 DWT tanker, owned by Fulda Industrial of Hong Kong, was carrying over 384 metric tons of fuel. Although no oil spill has been detected, pollution control measures have been activated as a precaution.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Deendayal Port Authority, Om Prakash Dadlani, told a news agency: “A tanker vessel named MV Fulda departed for Oman after discharging methanol at Oil Jetty No. 2. We received input about an explosion; however, no fire or smoke was reported. Twenty-one crew members were onboard the vessel. The Maritime Response Coordination Committee informed the Coast Guard about the incident. Teams from the Coast Guard and the Deendayal Port Authority reached the site. Our rescue team has safely evacuated all crew members.”

Indian authorities deployed two tugs, the Indian Coast Guard vessel ICGS C-429, and the pollution control ship Samudra Pavak. Two Coast Guard interceptor boats remain at the site, monitoring the situation. MV Fulda remains afloat, with no water ingress reported, but nearby vessels have been advised to maintain a safe distance due to ongoing fire and pollution risks. — DeshGujarat