View source for MT New Diamond

{{short description|Very large crude carrier}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship name=''New Diamond''
|Ship owner=Porto Emporios Shipping Inc, Piraeus, Greece
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|Ship registry={{PAN}}
|Ship route=
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|Ship builder=Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding – Chiba, Japan
|Ship original cost=
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|Ship laid down=14 December 1999
|Ship launched=10 August 2000
|Ship completed=29 November 2000
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|Ship identification=*{{IMO Number|9191424}}
*{{MMSI|351247000}}
|Ship fate= Scrapped in [[Gadani]] in 2021
|Ship notes=
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|Ship class=[[VLCC]]
|Ship type=[[Oil tanker]]
|Ship tonnage=*{{GT|160,079}} 
*{{DWT|299,986}}
|Ship displacement=
|Ship length={{convert|330.0|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|60.0|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
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|Ship power=Single [[diesel engine]]
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|Ship speed={{convert|15.5|knot|lk=in}}
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'''MT ''New Diamond''''' is a [[very large crude carrier]]. On 3 September 2020, the ship caught fire off the western coast of [[Sri Lanka]], resulting in the death of a Filipino crew member. After burning intermittently for almost a week, the fire was reported to be extinguished by 11 September. In July 2021 the ship was beached at [[Gadani Ship Breaking Yard]].

==Ship==
The ship was built as ''Ikomasan'' by [[Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding]] in [[Chiba (city)|Chiba]], Japan.<ref name="msi">{{csr|register=msi|id=9191424|shipname=New Diamond|accessdate=4 September 2020}}</ref>  Its [[keel]] was [[Keel laying|laid]] on 14 December 1999, it was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 10 August 2000, and was delivered on 29 November 2000.<ref name="msi"/>  In 2013, the vessel was renamed ''Diamond Warrior'', and again to ''New Diamond'' the following year.<ref name="msi"/> ''New Diamond'' has a [[gross tonnage]] of 160,079 GT and a [[deadweight tonnage]] of 299,986 DWT.<ref name="msi"/>  It measures {{convert|330|m|ftin}} long, with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|60|m|ft}}, and is powered by a single [[diesel engine]] that gives it a speed of {{convert|15.5|kn|lk=in}}.<ref name="msi"/> At the time of its fire, ''New Diamond'' was owned by the Greek company Porto Emporios Shipping Inc.<ref name="reuters"/>

== Fire ==
On 3 September 2020, a fire broke out in the engine room of ''New Diamond'' at around 07:45 local time ([[Sri Lanka Standard Time|SLST]]), when the ship was about {{convert|65|km|mi}} east of Sri Lanka in the [[Sangaman Kanda|Sangaman Kanda Point]].<ref name="bb"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Blaze reined in on supertanker off Sri Lanka, cargo area intact|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/indian-oil-corp-chartered-oil-tanker-catches-fire-off-sri-lanka-13079048|access-date=3 September 2020|website=CNA|language=en}}</ref> At the time, the ship was carrying 270,000 tonnes of oil from Kuwait to the [[Paradip]] refinery in India, with 18 Filipino and five Greek crewmembers on board.<ref name="me">{{cite web | url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/international-response-to-fire-on-vlcc-tanker-in-the-indian-ocean | title=International Response to Fire on VLCC Tanker in the Indian Ocean | publisher=The Maritime Executive | date=3 September 2020 | accessdate=4 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="bb">{{Cite news|date=3 September 2020|title=Tanker With 2 Million Barrels of Oil Catches Fire Off Sri Lanka|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-03/tanker-with-2-million-barrels-of-oil-catches-fire-off-sri-lanka|access-date=3 September 2020}}</ref> The cargo was loaded on 23 August 2020 at Mina [[Al Ahmadi, Kuwait|al Ahmadi]] and was due to arrive at Paradip on 5 September.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 September 2020|title=Crude oil carrier with 200,000 MT cargo on fire off SriLanka|url=https://economynext.com/crude-oil-carrier-with-200000-mt-cargo-on-fire-off-srilanka-73549,%20https://economynext.com/crude-oil-carrier-with-200000-mt-cargo-on-fire-off-srilanka-73549/|access-date=3 September 2020|website=EconomyNext}}</ref> The ship was chartered for the voyage by the [[Indian Oil Corporation]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 September 2020|title=Indian Oil-tanker fire update: 1 missing, 1 injured out of 23 crew|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/business/indian-oil-corp-tanker-fire-sri-lanka-live-updates-6581429/|access-date=3 September 2020|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

[[Reuters]] reported that the fire was triggered by an explosion and was initially brought under control before spreading upwards to the ship's [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=3 September 2020|title=Blaze breaks out again on oil tanker off Sri Lanka, cargo area intact|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-tanker-blast-idUSKBN25U0OQ|access-date=3 September 2020}}</ref> The Sri Lankan Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) said it believed that the ship's cargo tanks were intact following the fire, but that a slight oil slick had been sighted, perhaps from the fuel oil on board.<ref name="me"/> MEPA said that early on 4 September two explosions were reported from ''New Diamond'', though the Sri Lankan Army said that there was no danger of an oil leak at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 September 2020|title='No oil leak from MT New Diamond', yet – Marine Environment Protection Authority|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/09/04/no-oil-leak-from-mt-new-diamond-yet-marine-environment-protection-authority/|access-date=4 September 2020|website=Sri Lanka News – Newsfirst|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=4 September 2020|title=No danger of an oil spill in Sri Lankan waters from burning Supertanker – Navy|url=https://economynext.com/no-danger-of-an-oil-spill-in-sri-lankan-waters-from-burning-supertanker-navy-73594,%20https://economynext.com/no-danger-of-an-oil-spill-in-sri-lankan-waters-from-burning-supertanker-navy-73594/|access-date=4 September 2020|website=EconomyNext}}</ref>

In the meantime, the government of the [[Maldives]] had expressed worry, with a presidential minister saying that the country needed to take all precautions to prevent oil from reaching its shores.<ref name="bbc1"/>

== Rescue operations ==
19 sailors were rescued by the commercial vessel ''Helen M'', two by the [[Sri Lanka Navy]] ship {{ship|SLNS|Sayura||2}}, and one by the Navy ship ''Ranarisi'', which landed a rescue party aboard ''New Diamond''.<ref name="me"/> A Filipino crew member died in the fire.<ref name="bbc1">{{Cite web|date=2020-09-04|title=Oil tanker towed from Sri Lanka shoreline amid spill fears|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-54026289|access-date=2020-09-04|website=BBC|language=en}}</ref><ref name="f24">{{Cite web|date=2020-09-04|title=Crewman killed as oil tanker fire rages for second day off Sri Lanka coast|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200904-crewman-killed-as-oil-tanker-fire-rages-for-second-day-off-sri-lanka-coast|access-date=2020-09-04|website=France 24|language=en}}</ref> 22 crew members were rescued and one person who sustained burn injuries was admitted to the Kalmunai Hospital.<ref name="f24"/> A total of four Sri Lankan ships responded to the incident, as well as a surveillance aircraft of the [[Sri Lanka Air Force]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-03|title=UPDATE: Air Force deploys 'Beechcraft' to assist in rescue efforts of the ship in distress|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/09/03/vessel-in-distress-in-seas-off-ampara/|access-date=2020-09-04|website=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst|language=en}}</ref><ref name="me"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-03|title=Sri Lanka Oil Tanker Fire breaks out again ship abandoned Indian and Russian ships join rescue|url=https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-oil-tanker-fire-breaks-out-again-ship-abandoned-indian-and-russian-ships-join-rescue-73559|access-date=2020-09-03|website=EconomyNext}}</ref> International responders included four [[Indian Coast Guard]] ship and three [[Indian Navy]] vessels, and two [[Russian Navy]] ships that were in Sri Lanka for scheduled exercises at the time.<ref name="me"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Warships join fight to put out blaze on oil tanker off Sri Lanka|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/warships-join-fight-put-blaze-oil-tanker-sri-lanka-200903173641622.html|access-date=2020-09-04|website=aljazeera.com}}</ref> In addition, a [[Mi-17]] helicopter of the [[Sri Lanka Air Force]] was also deployed in the search operation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=LBO|date=2020-09-04|title=MT New Diamond now lies about 35 kilometers off the coast: Sri Lanka Navy|url=https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/mt-new-diamond-now-lies-about-35-kilometers-off-the-coast-sri-lanka-navy/|access-date=2020-09-04|website=Lanka Business Online|language=en-US}}</ref>
Indian Coast Guards(ICG) deployed ICG Shaurya, ICG Sarang, ICG Samudra 'Pahredar' and ICG Dornier rescued 22 of 23 crew and confirmed no oil spill.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-09-04|title=Indian coast guard assists Sri Lankan Navy|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indian-coast-guard-assists-sri-lankan-navy-in-firefighting-efforts-on-oil-tanker/articleshow/77930064.cms|access-date=2020-09-04|newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref>
On 6 September, Sri Lanka Navy Commander [[Nishantha Ulugetenne]] said that the fire had been brought under control after 36 hours of rescue operations.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-06|title=MT New Diamond blaze contained; Sri Lanka Navy Commander|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/09/06/mt-new-diamond-blaze-contained-sri-lanka-navy-commander/|access-date=2020-09-06|website=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Supertanker fire off Sri Lanka under control as navy tows it away|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/supertanker-fire-sri-lanka-control-navy-tows-200905055239334.html|access-date=2020-09-06|website=aljazeera.com}}</ref> However, it subsequently ignited again and burned for several more days before being declared contained on 9 September.<ref name="me 9.9">{{cite web | url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/fire-out-on-vlcc-new-diamond-as-sri-lanka-explores-legal-action | title=Fire Out on VLCC New Diamond as Sri Lanka Explores Legal Action | publisher=The Maritime Executive | date=9 September 2020 | accessdate=12 September 2020}}</ref>  By then, rescue operations had grown to more than a dozen ships from India and Sri Lanka, while the Sri Lanka Air Force had carried out 176 missions to drop about {{convert|440000|L|gal}} of water and {{convert|4500|kg|lb}} of fire suppressing chemicals.<ref name="me 9.9"/>  The fire was extinguished by 11 September, when salvage teams boarded ''New Diamond'' to work on staunching a fuel oil leak and prepare the ship for a tow to a port where the cargo of crude oil would be unloaded.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/salvage-teams-board-burnt-out-vlcc-new-diamond-off-sri-lanka | title=Salvage Teams Board Burnt Out VLCC New Diamond off Sri Lanka | publisher=The Maritime Executive | date=11 September 2020 | accessdate=12 September 2020}}</ref>  In late September, ''New Diamond'' was taken under tow for the port of [[Kandla]] in western Indian state of [[Gujarat]] for the offloading of her cargo of crude oil,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/fire-stricken-tanker-new-diamond-heads-to-port-to-offload-cargo | title=Fire-Stricken Tanker New Diamond to Offload Cargo in Gujarat | publisher=The Maritime Executive | date=27 September 2020 | accessdate=2 October 2020}}</ref> though the destination was subsequently changed to the port of [[Khor Fakkan]] in the United Arab Emirates, where the oil would be transferred to a different tanker for transport to Paradip.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/new-destination-for-salvage-of-burnt-out-new-diamond-tanker | title=New Destination for Salvage of Burnt-Out Tanker New Diamond | publisher=The Maritime Executive | date=2 October 2020 | accessdate=17 October 2020}}</ref>

==Legal actions==
On 9 September 2020, MEPA announced that it planned to take legal action against the owner of ''New Diamond'' on grounds of violating Sri Lankan environmental protection laws.<ref name="reuters">{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-tanker-blast-legal/sri-lanka-to-take-legal-action-against-tankers-owner-after-fire-idUSKBN260128?il=0 |title=Sri Lanka to take legal action against tanker's owner after fire |website=Reuters |date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>  The captain of ''New Diamond'', Stereo Sterio Ilias, was charged in the Colombo High Court by the Sri Lankan attorney general of causing an oil spill and violating the Marine Environment Protection Authority Act, with a fine of $1 million sought; the court decreased the fine to $65,000 and Ilias was released after paying.<ref name="me 10.16">{{cite web | url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/new-diamond-captain-released-as-case-of-burnt-out-oil-tanker-concludes | title=New Diamond Captain Released as Case of Burnt-Out Oil Tanker Concludes | publisher=The Maritime Executive | date=16 October 2020 | accessdate=17 October 2020}}</ref>  The ship's owner was charged $2.4 million for the firefighting effort, which the company paid as a condition of towing ''New Diamond'' out of Sri Lankan waters.<ref name="me 10.16"/>

==Gallery==

{{Gallery
|width=160 | height=170
|File:ICGS Shaurya and ICGS Sujay during fire dousing operation.jpg 
 |ICGS ''Shaurya'' and ICGS ''Sujay'' during fire dousing operation.
|File:ICGS Sujay during MT New Diamond fire supression mission.jpg
 |ICGS ''Sujay'' during the ''New Diamond'' fire suppression mission.
|File:Indian Coast guard ships dousing fire.jpg
 |Indian Coast guard ships ICGS [[Samudra-class Pollution Control Vessel|''Samudra Pahredar'']] and a Samarth-class ship during fire dousing onboard ''New Diamond''.
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{2020 shipwrecks}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:MT ''New Diamond''}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:New Diamond}}
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2020]]
[[Category:Oil tankers]]
[[Category:2000 ships]]
[[Category:2020 in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Ships built by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding]]
[[Category:Pollution events in 2020]]