A fire that began in the engine room of the crude carrier New Diamond has been reported to have disabled the vessel. On September 3, 2020, the vessel issued a distress call while in the Bay of Bengal, southeast of the Sri Lankan coast. At the time, the vessel was en route from Basra, Iraq to Paradip, India. Non-essential crew members have evacuated the ship and boarded a passing cargo ship. The Captain and several crew remained on board the ship to continue battling the fire. It is unknown at this time if any of the crew have sustained injuries or burns. The vessel had 23 crew members on board, one of whom has been reported missing.
The New Diamond is a very large crude carrier (VLCC) built in 2000. It is owned and operated by the Greek company New Shipping Ltd-LIB. The carrier was under charter by Indian Oil Corp, and reportedly has roughly two million barrels of oil on board. It is insured with the West of England P&I Club.
Spagnoletti Law Firm has previously handled maritime lawsuits in Courts throughout the country. Our attorneys have previously represented the family members of foreign seamen who have lost their lives or been seriously injured in numerous accidents all over the world. Our attorneys have extensive experience in maritime personal injury and wrongful death litigation and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured as a result of the negligence of another party. The experienced maritime attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of this tragic fire. There are strict and short time limits on making claims related to vessel accidents, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or 877-678-5864 to learn more about your rights.