Another ship in distress in high seas off Sri Lanka; sailor missing

By Asiri Fernando

One sailor is missing following a fire onboard the Liberian flagged container vessel ‘MSC Messina’, reported to be 480 Nautical Miles (Nm) off the East Coast of Sri Lanka.

The MSC Messina (IMO number - 9074042), a 26-year-old, 300 meters long, 63,000 deadweight ton vessels, had left Colombo Port on 23 May en route to Singapore when she reported a fire in her engine room to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC – Colombo) yesterday (25 June) morning.  

Another vessel of the same operator – ‘MSC Delia’ is in the vicinity, assisting in coordinating the response. The MSC Messina had a crew of 28, and no further injuries or losses have been reported as of last evening.  

According to the Navy, no formal request for assistance has been made to Colombo. 

“The vessel is at the edge of the Sri Lankan Search and Rescue (SAR) region," Navy Spokesman Captain Indika de Silva said, adding that they have altered other vessels in the vicinity about the incident.

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) stated that the vessel had initially reported the fire contained through the use of a shipboard fire suppression system. However, the vessel had later reported smoke. According to the SLPA, the MSC Messina departed Colombo Port bound for Singapore at 1545Hrs on 23 June, carrying only 38 containers. She had discharged 2,000 containers at the Colombo Port.

According to the Indian Coast Guard, the response efforts are coordinated by the MRCC in Port Blair, with the ICG vessel and aircraft responding to the distress call.

"#SAR Container ship #MSCMessina with 28 crew about 425nm from #PortBlair reported fire in engine room AM 25 Jun and one crew missing. Vessel enroute from #Colombo to #Singapore. MRCC P'Blair coordinating assistance through #MSCDeila in vicinity. #ICG Ship and aircraft being deployed," the ICG tweeted.