<p>Sri Lankan Navy with assistance from India are battling a major fire on board a huge Panama- registered container carrier off the coast of Colombo.<br /><br />The fire broke out last night on the merchant ship MV MSC-Daniela, when the 14,000-container carrier was about 120 nautical miles away from Sri Lanka.<br /><br />Sri Lanka's Naval spokesman Chaminda Walakuluge said the Navy responded to a distress call by a local agent of the container vessel, which was travelling from Singapore to Egypt.<br /><br />Sri Lanka Navy dispatched two Fast Attack Craft (FAC) P 436 and P 412 to the location assisting Sri Lankan Port Authority tugs, Rawana and Maha Wewa to douse the fire, Walakuluge said.<br /><br />A Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter has also been deployed to douse the flame.<br /><br />"There are no casualties among the 22-member crew," Walakuluge said.<br /><br />Indian Coast Guard Ship 'Shoor' which was on overseas deployment at Colombo also joined the fire fighting effort.<br /><br />"Information was received from High Commission of India, Colombo regarding a request received from the Sri Lankan Navy to render assistance to extinguish fire on board MV MSC Daniella," the Coast Guard said in a statement.<br /><br />"The vessel was carrying dangerous cargo and hence utmost caution was exercised in firefighting to ensure safety of the crew and the vessel," it said.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the Indian Navy also dispatched two of its ships -- INS Ghariyal and INS Darshak -- to help douse the fire.<br /><br />The vessel is presently anchored 11 nautical miles off the coast of Colombo.<br />The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained. <br /><br /></p>
<p>Sri Lankan Navy with assistance from India are battling a major fire on board a huge Panama- registered container carrier off the coast of Colombo.<br /><br />The fire broke out last night on the merchant ship MV MSC-Daniela, when the 14,000-container carrier was about 120 nautical miles away from Sri Lanka.<br /><br />Sri Lanka's Naval spokesman Chaminda Walakuluge said the Navy responded to a distress call by a local agent of the container vessel, which was travelling from Singapore to Egypt.<br /><br />Sri Lanka Navy dispatched two Fast Attack Craft (FAC) P 436 and P 412 to the location assisting Sri Lankan Port Authority tugs, Rawana and Maha Wewa to douse the fire, Walakuluge said.<br /><br />A Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter has also been deployed to douse the flame.<br /><br />"There are no casualties among the 22-member crew," Walakuluge said.<br /><br />Indian Coast Guard Ship 'Shoor' which was on overseas deployment at Colombo also joined the fire fighting effort.<br /><br />"Information was received from High Commission of India, Colombo regarding a request received from the Sri Lankan Navy to render assistance to extinguish fire on board MV MSC Daniella," the Coast Guard said in a statement.<br /><br />"The vessel was carrying dangerous cargo and hence utmost caution was exercised in firefighting to ensure safety of the crew and the vessel," it said.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the Indian Navy also dispatched two of its ships -- INS Ghariyal and INS Darshak -- to help douse the fire.<br /><br />The vessel is presently anchored 11 nautical miles off the coast of Colombo.<br />The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained. <br /><br /></p>