China News Service reported on September 8 that due to extreme temperatures and strong winds, the fire on the "New Diamond" tanker located in the eastern seas of Sri Lanka on the 7th local time was completely extinguished and reignited again.
On the 8th, India planned to deliver fire-fighting chemicals to the tanker to help extinguish the fire.
The Sri Lankan Navy said that in order to increase rescue efforts, a plane of the Indian Coast Guard is expected to carry dry chemical powder on the 8th and drop it onto the ship by helicopter.
On September 6, local time, in the waters east of Sri Lanka, the rescue ship was extinguishing the fire on the New Diamond tanker.
It is reported that the fire of the "New Diamond" tanker has been brought under control and there is currently no risk of oil leakage.
The Sri Lankan Navy said in a statement: “Due to the unremitting efforts of rescue partners, the current fire has weakened to a certain extent.” However, the Dutch rescue company SMIT said that the stern was still too hot and not safe enough for them to board the ship for inspection.
"Once the situation is stable and safe, you will be able to board the ship for inspection."
The company also stated that it is possible to tow the tanker to a safer location and remove the cargo.
"There is no sign of a leak from the tanker. But due to the unpredictability of the situation, this may change."
According to reports, Sri Lanka's Marine Environmental Protection Agency (MEPA) plans to visit the area to detect contamination in water samples.
The Sri Lanka Marine Environmental Protection Agency stated that “if the worst happens and the ship breaks”, legal action may be taken against the ship company.
In the early morning of the 3rd local time, the "New Diamond" tanker leased by the Indian Petroleum Corporation (IOC) caught fire on the east coast of Sri Lanka.
The tanker was loaded with 270,000 tons of oil, equivalent to about 2 million barrels of oil, and departed from Ahmadi Port in Kuwait to Paradip Port in India.