Control operations continue on MT New Diamond

More than 20 experts from Britain, Netherlands & Belgium studying the situation 

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

Despite the fire onboard the crude oil tanker MT New Diamond brought under control, the Sri Lanka Navy and other stakeholders continue disaster management operations until the risk of the ship catching fire again was completely eliminated, the Navy said yesterday.  

SLN Spokesman Captain Indika de Silva said that in addition to the team of 10 British and the Netherlands experts, the commercial and technical operator of the distressed vessel also sent another team of 11 disaster management experts from the Netherlands, Britain and Belgium yesterday morning.  

The team of 10 British and Netherlands experts, including salvage operation experts, assessors and a legal adviser arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday.  Six salvage operation experts of the team had been transferred by Sri Lanka Navy craft to the location of the ill-fated oil tanker and they were studying the situation.   Sri Lanka Navy and other disaster management teams were able to bring the fire on board the crude oil tanker under control by Sunday evening.