Maersk Frankfurt Fire: Ongoing 10-Day Battle Off Indian Coast

The container fire on the Maersk Frankfurt, a newly built containership chartered to Maersk, has been raging for 10 days, with efforts led by the crew and the Indian Coast Guard. Specialists have now joined the firefighting efforts off the West Coast of India to combat the ongoing blaze.

The fire was reported to the Indian Coast Guard on July 19 while the 5,920 TEU Maersk Frankfurt was en route from India to Sri Lanka. The vessel, located approximately 35 nautical miles offshore south of Kasaragod, India, has been the focus of intense firefighting efforts, with the Indian Coast Guard deploying five vessels, two helicopters, and its Dornier aircraft to combat the flames.

Despite the challenging conditions, the Indian Coast Guard reports that the situation remains under control. While one crewmember tragically lost their life in the early stages of the fire, the rest of the crew is safe aboard the vessel. The Coast Guard continues to assist the salvors until all vessels and equipment are on the scene, with additional tugs and offshore vessels expected to arrive soon to aid in the firefighting and salvage efforts.

Source .