Somalia: Puntland-bound cargo ship catches fire in India

BOSASO, Somalia - A cargo ship procured by traders in Somalia’s Puntland state caught fire while it was anchored in Porbandar in Gujarat state within the Indian sub-continent, authorities said, leading to the loss of millions of dollars' worth of goods.

Identified as Jamnagar, the commercial vessel was headed to Bosaso, the coastal town of Puntland known for vibrancy in trade within the Bari region of Somalia. It was loaded with about 950 tons of rice and 78 tons of sugar owned by Somali businessmen.

At the time of the accident, at least 14 crew members were evacuated to safety as the fire spread, calling for immediate intervention by authorities. In terms of disaster prevention, India is ranked among the quickest countries when it comes to intervention.

The fire crews received the alert at 6:40 a.m. local time and arrived within ten minutes, deploying three engines to fight the blaze. Additional coast guard units assisted in the operation, Indian officials said.

The vessel was towed roughly a kilometre from the scene of the accident to prevent potential damage to other ships within the vicinity. The fire, which burned in the cargo hold, caused extensive damage to the rice cargo and posed a risk of spreading to the diesel tanks on board.

Further reports indicate that the ship was operated by HRM and Sons Company, which is based in Jamnagar, India. Investigations suggest that a short circuit may have been the cause of the accident.

Bosaso serves as one of Somalia’s busiest ports, handling much of the rice, sugar, and other staples that supply markets across Puntland and the wider Horn of Africa. It is strategically located within the coastal strip and serves as the commercial capital of the Puntland state.

GAROWE ONLINE