On Sunday, July 6, 2025, at approximately 13:05 IST, an explosion ripped through the Hong Kong-flagged product tanker Fulda as she conducted routine gas-freeing operations off the port of Kandla on India’s west coast. Gas-freeing the process of ventilating tanks of residual volatile vapours before maintenance or the loading of new cargo is an everyday procedure in tanker operations, but one that carries significant risks if not executed with reliable care.
Built in 1999 and boasting a deadweight tonnage of 19,477 DWT, the 26-year-old Fulda had departed Kandla at 11:00 IST that morning, bound for Port Sohar in Oman with a cargo of methanol and residual fuel amounting to some 384.17 metric tons. Within two hours, responding to reports from the nearby anchor-handler Team Focus, the vessel’s crew discovered a sudden 22° list to starboard, swiftly corrected to port as emergency measures were taken onboard.
By 19:00 IST, with the situation worsening due to structural damage and the ongoing risk of fire or secondary blasts, the master of the Fulda formally requested an immediate evacuation. In a well-coordinated operation overseen by India’s Directorate General of Shipping, all 21 crewmembers comprising 11 Chinese, 2 Bangladeshi, 1 Indonesian, and 7 Myanmar’s nationals were safely transferred to the tug Orchid Star, which had been dispatched from Kandla to effect rescue. No injuries were reported.
Indian authorities rapidly mobilized a multi-pronged response. Two additional harbour tugs joined Orchid Star, while the Indian Coast Guard deployed the inlet patrol vessel ICGS C-429 and the Pollution Control Vessel Samudra Pavak to the scene. As a precaution against potential oil slicks, interceptor boats C-401 and C-402 were kept on station to monitor sea conditions and water sampling, though to date no evidence of hydrocarbon pollution has been confirmed.
Early technical assessments suggest that the blast originated from an build-up of flammable vapour within Fulda’s cargo tanks. Investigators point to inadequate flushing and purging during the gas-freeing sequence, allowing a vapour–air mixture to form. In the absence of proper grounding and bonding of equipment, static electrical discharge may have ignited the cloud, triggering the significant explosion. Similar incidents in tanker operations have historically underscored the critical importance of rigorous inerting and strict observance to safety checklists before tank entry or maintenance.
The owner, Hong Kong-based Fulda Industrial, has pledged full cooperation with the Indian Directorate General of Shipping’s formal inquiry. Preliminary investigation teams have already begun inspecting the vessel’s tank-cleaning logs, equipment maintenance records, and crew training certifications to establish a timeline of events prior to the detonation.
Despite the severity of the blast, the Fulda remains afloat with no detectable ingress of seawater into her lower hull compartments. The structural integrity of cargo tanks and adjacent decks, however, is compromised, and rescue specialists are on standby should further reinforcement or a tow to protected waters become necessary. All nearby merchant and fishing vessels have been issued safety advisories to maintain a minimum five-nautical-mile exclusion zone until the danger of secondary ruptures has passed.
Environmental agencies have noted that even in the absence of a visible slick, trace hydrocarbon residues can pose long-term risks to marine life and coastal habitats. The Coast Guard’s Pollution Control Vessel is equipped with booms, skimmers, and dispersant kits, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. Continuous aerial and underwater surveillance is being conducted to detect minute oil sheen or subsurface droplets.
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Maritime safety experts describe the Fulda incident as a stark reminder that gas-freeing, though routine, remains one of the most hazardous activities aboard tankers. “Even marginal lapses in equipment inspection or procedural compliance can allow vapour pockets to accumulate,” noted Captain Suresh Nair, a veteran tanker master and safety auditor. “Strict atmospheric testing, inert-gas blanketing, and regular maintenance of electrical bonding circuits are non-negotiable to prevent such catastrophic failures”.
Looking ahead, the Directorate General of Shipping is expected to issue fresh circulars reinforcing mandatory safety protocols for gas-freeing and tank-entry procedures, potentially raising requirements for independent third-party monitoring on older vessels. The incident may also prompt insurers and classification societies to revisit survey standards and upgrade conditions for vessels trading hazardous cargoes in regional waters.
For now, the immediate priority remains ensuring the Fulda’s seaworthiness, preventing any pollution, and safeguarding rescue crews. Port authorities at Kandla have confirmed that normal operations at adjacent jetties continue uninterrupted, albeit under heightened scrutiny and with traffic management protocols in place to avoid congestion near the incident site.
As the investigation unfolds, stakeholders across the maritime sector will be watching closely. The Fulda explosion shows that even well-regulated ports require strict vigilance and strong safety practices to avoid accidents, environmental harm, and costly disruptions.
Source : (splash247.com)
