What It is Prefer to Captain a Tanker on Hearth After a Houthi Assault

Captain Avhilash Rawat had simply completed dinner when an anti-ship ballistic missile smashed into his oil tanker.

“The entire vessel shook,” he stated, in an interview earlier than receiving an award for bravery at sea from the maritime business’s most important regulator. “I finished strolling and I began working — towards the bridge.”

It was the early night of Jan. 26 and Rawat’s 820-foot freighter had simply been struck off the coast of Yemen in waters the place Houthi assaults had been — and stay — commonplace. There was now a gap of about 5 sq. meters within the tanker’s deck and a hearth was roaring. Rawat had no thought whether or not or not one other strike would observe.

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Rawat was talking about one of many highest profile incidents in a Houthi marketing campaign that started late final yr that reveals no indicators of stopping. The militants started by going after vessels with any connection to Israel earlier than widening their targets to incorporate British and American-linked boats.

Simply this weekend, US navy destroyers dealt with a contemporary barrage that included three anti-ship ballistic missiles. Whereas many vessels now keep away from the route by going spherical Africa, a major quantity nonetheless cross Yemen’s shoreline. 

Rawat’s first-hand account offers a way of the perils of crusing on what have turn out to be among the world’s most harmful waters. The route had beforehand been a routine short-cut for nearly all service provider marine commerce between Asia and Europe. At this time, most respected companies are likely to keep away from the realm.

The missile ruptured the highest of a cargo tank containing naphtha. That oil was now burning. In complete, the tanker, the Marlin Luanda, was carrying about 700,000 barrels of the petroleum product, which is used to make gasoline and plastics.

If the fireplace unfold to adjoining tanks, the entire ship might have gone up in flames.

Rawat issued a Mayday broadcast. He started slowing his ship and maneuvered it in order that the wind was blowing the flames — which had been “greater than 10-15 meters” excessive — in a safer course. They fought the blaze with an inert gasoline system and foam, however the latter quickly ran out. Rawat stated they stored going with seawater. French and US frigates assisted. Nonetheless, the fireplace raged.

As if this wasn’t sufficient, Rawat additionally knew that the waters off Somalia are a infamous hotspot for piracy. And his stricken ship was transferring towards the east African nation’s shoreline.

Indian Rescue

Rawat was in contact with the agency that had employed the Marlin Luanda’s crew in addition to the cargo proprietor, commodity buying and selling big Trafigura Group. He was instructed that he might abandon his ship. He didn’t.

The 2024 IMO Award for Distinctive Bravery at Sea goes to Captain Avhilash Rawat & the crew of Marlin Luanda! They demonstrated extraordinary braveness battling a hearth attributable to a missile. Honored with a medal & certificates in London! 🌊👏 #IMOAwards #BraveryAtSea pic.twitter.com/bWQSuqNJdR

— Worldwide Maritime Group (@IMOHQ) December 2, 2024

With the fireplace persevering with, and Rawat and his crew nonetheless on board, the Indian navy reached the scene. Finally, with the navy’s assist, an enormous steel plate, fitted with chains, was dragged over the flaming cargo tank, ravenous the fireplace of oxygen. Extra foam and seawater had been used. Lastly, it was extinguished.

It had burned for about 20 hours. Rawat ended up being awake for about 36. Staying on board, he’d prevented what might have been an environmental disaster and had secured the vessel and its cargo.

On Dec. 2, Captain Rawat and the crew of the Marlin Luanda acquired an award for Distinctive Bravery at Sea from the Worldwide Maritime Group, the delivery business’s world regulator.

“I forgot that an individual must sleep,” Rawat stated. “It was very scary, frankly talking. If I shut my eyes, I can see the fireplace at the back of my thoughts.”