Cargo ship fire runs its course

Cargo ship fire runs its course
Jun 23, 2018 https://www.telegraphindia.com/calcutta/cargo-ship-fire-runs-its-course-...

Calcutta: The fire inside the abandoned cargo ship MV SSL Kolkata has died out on its own, a salvage team comprising experts from various countries confirmed after the first thorough inspection of the vessel.

The ship with 464 containers carrying 211 tonnes of oil had caught fire on the evening of June 13 and remains adrift near the Sunderbans coast.

Members of the salvage team hired by the company that owns the ship carried out a comprehensive inspection of the engine room, accommodation units and cargo hold on Friday and did not find flames anywhere.

Wisps of smoke continue to rise from the smouldering portions, though. The Coast Guard, which had rescued the 22-member crew after the fire started, is keeping a round-the-clock vigil on the vessel to report any new danger.

Officials involved in the operation said there was a fear of hazardous chemicals and fuel spilling from the ship into the sea had the fire continued to rage.