A serious maritime incident occurred off the Indian port of Kandla on Sunday afternoon, as the Hong Kong-flagged product tanker Fulda suffered a fire and explosion while en route to Port Sohar, Oman. The blast, which occurred during gas-freeing...
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The blast, which occurred during gas-freeing operations, triggered an emergency evacuation of all 21 crewmembers and prompted an extensive response from Indian authorities.
Preliminary inputs suggest the explosion was linked to improper handling of flammable vapours during gas-freeing operations—a hazardous yet routine procedure used to ventilate tanks of residual volatile gases before maintenance or loading the next cargo. Fulda had been carrying methanol, and inadequate flushing and purging may have allowed a flammable vapour-air mix to build up.
Experts indicate that a lack of proper bonding (should that read "grounding?) or poorly maintained equipment may have created static electricity, igniting the mixture. Final conclusions await an official investigation.
PS> I was of the impression that this type of accidents where something of the past.
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