Maersk Container Ship Catches Fire Near Lakshadweep Islands; 23 Crew Members Rescued, 4 Missing

A Maersk Container Ship with 27 crew members on board caught fire on Tuesday following an explosion at sea at 340 nautical miles from Agatti in Lakshadweep Islands.

Mumbai, Mar 7: A Maersk Container Ship with 27 crew members on board caught fire on Tuesday following an explosion at sea at 340 nautical miles from Agatti in Lakshadweep Islands. While 23 crew members have been rescued, four have been reported to be missing. A search operation is underway for the four missing members by Indian Coast Guard and Maritime Rescue Coordination Center.

Maersk Line said that the 2017-built, 15,262 teu Maersk Honam was headed from Singapore to Suez. The 27 crew members include 13 from India, 9 from Phillipines, 2 from Thailand and 1 each from Romania, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Maersk Container Ship with 27 crew members on-board caught fire following an explosion at sea at 340 nautical miles from Agatti in Lakshwadeep Islands; 23 rescued, search operation for 4 missing members underway by Indian Coast Guard & Maritime Rescue Coordination Center #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/1SaqhV52nT

— ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2018

Maersk Line said the crew of the vessel Maersk Honam sent out a distress signal after unsuccessful firefighting efforts on Tuesday.