A cargo vessel named Haridasan, loaded with 950 tons of rice, 100 tons of sugar, and diesel, caught fire on Monday at the Subhashnagar Jetty in Porbandar. Operated by HRM & Sons of Jamnagar, the ship was en route to Bosaso, Somalia.
The fire, which broke out while the ship was docked, quickly intensified due to the highly flammable cargo. Firefighters responded with three fire tenders and a hydrant system. However, as the flames spread, authorities made the decision to tow the vessel first 1 km from the jetty, and eventually 100 km into the open sea, to prevent damage to port infrastructure and minimize risk to nearby areas.
The Indian Coast Guard assisted in the firefighting operations. Smoke and flames continued to rise from the ship as of Monday evening, with black plumes visible from a distance. Locals gathered along the shoreline to witness the incident unfold.
The Porbandar fire team remains on high alert, monitoring the situation closely. No casualties have been reported so far.