FULDA

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Crew arrived back in Kandla, no pollution observed from damaged tanker

All 21 crew members of the 'Fulda' were brought to the port of Kandla after an explosion ripped a large section of the forward deck open. The tanker had completed the offloading of a cargo of methanol at the Deendayal terminal in Kandla and departed at mid-morning on July 6 en route to Oman. Initial interrogations by the Directorate General showed the vessel had begun a gas-freeing operation to vent its tanks after the discharge. The authorities were investigating the improper handling of flammable vapors and possibly inadequate flushing and purging of the tanks. They believed that a flammable vapor-air mixture had built up in the tanks. The tanker had more than 384 metric tons of fuel aboard. The pollution control vessel was standing by, but so far, there were no reports of a fuel discharge. Report with photos: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/product-tanker-ripped-apart-by-explosion-off-coast-of-india

Tanker abandoned after explosion

The 'Fulda', bound for Oman reported an explosion in pos. 22° 48' N 070° 04' E, shortly after completing a methanol discharge at atthe Oil Jetty No. 2 of the Deendayal Port in Kandla, Gujarat, and leaving port at 1.05 p.m. IST. The explosion was observed by a nearby vessel, the 'Team Focus'. prompting a swift response of the Coast Guard and Deendayal Port Authority on July 6, 2025. While no fire or smoke were reported, the ship was heavily listing to starboard side and showed massive signs of destruction by the force of the explosion. The tanker initially developed a 22-degree list to starboard side, later shifting to port as onboard actions were taken. By 7 p.m. IST, the vessel’s master formally requested the evacuation of the 21 crew members, including 11 Chinese, two Bangladeshi, one Indonesian, and seven Myanmarese nationals. They were safely taken off the vessel by the tug 'Orchid Star', which had been dispatched from Kandla. Though the situation was initially reported as under control, the evolving conditions and severe structural impact led the master to request assistance. The tanker was carrying 384.17 metric tons of fuel as cargo on board. While no oil pollution has been confirmed, a full-scale pollution prevention effort has been activated. The explosion may have been linked to improper handling of flammable vapours during gas-freeing operations. The 'Fulda' had been carrying methanol, and inadequate flushing and purging may have allowed a flammable vapour-air mix to build up. In response to the emergency, two tugs, the Indian Coast Guard vessel 'ICGS 'C-429' and the pollution control vessel 'Samudra Pavak' were deployed to the site. Two Indian Coast Guard interceptor boats remained on station monitoring the Fulda', which was still afloat with no reported water ingress. All surrounding vessels have been advised to maintain safe distance from the tamler due to potential fire or pollution hazards. Reports with photo and video: https://connectgujarat.com/gujarat/tanker-bound-for-oman-reports-explosion-off-gujarat-coast-all-21-crew-evacuated-9469903 https://splash247.com/tanker-explodes-off-indian-port/

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