<p>The Sri Lankan navy has towed a fire-stricken supertanker further out to sea to keep it off the coast of the Indian Ocean island after the wind picked up strength and changed direction, a spokesman said on Thursday.</p>.<p>The tanker, loaded with 2 million barrels oil, was 50 nautical miles (95 km) from the east coast and moving in a northerly direction, the navy spokesman, Indika de Silva, said. Earlier, it had been headed southwest.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/india-rushes-fire-retardant-to-battle-tanker-blaze-near-sri-lanka-884328.html" target="_blank">India rushes fire retardant to battle tanker blaze near Sri Lanka</a></strong></p>.<p>The stricken vessel has raised fears of an environmental disaster, but two oil slicks in its trail are the result of escaping marine fuel oil, rather than leaking crude.</p>.<p>A fire broke out in the engine room of the Greek-owned New Diamond tanker last Thursday. The blaze was believed to have been doused on Sunday but reignited a day later.</p>.<p>De Silva ruled out the possibility of fire breaking out again after a team of salvage experts visited the ship on Wednesday.</p>.<p>New Shipping Ltd, the manager of the Panama-flagged New Diamond, has appointed SMIT Singapore Pte Ltd as its salvage expert, he said.</p>.<p>There was no immediate comment from either company.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/fears-of-oil-spill-dissipates-fire-in-vessel-off-sri-lankan-coast-almost-put-off-883500.html" target="_blank">Fears of oil spill dissipates, fire in vessel off Sri Lankan coast almost put off</a></strong></p>.<p>A preliminary investigation by the salvage firm showed the presence of a toxic gas in and around the vessel, de Silva said, but gave no further details.</p>.<p>Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has said it plans to take action against the ship's owner under the country's laws to protect the marine ecosystem.</p>.<p>The oil slicks have been sprayed with chemical dispersants from a Dornier aircraft deployed by the Indian Coast Guard.</p>
<p>The Sri Lankan navy has towed a fire-stricken supertanker further out to sea to keep it off the coast of the Indian Ocean island after the wind picked up strength and changed direction, a spokesman said on Thursday.</p>.<p>The tanker, loaded with 2 million barrels oil, was 50 nautical miles (95 km) from the east coast and moving in a northerly direction, the navy spokesman, Indika de Silva, said. Earlier, it had been headed southwest.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/india-rushes-fire-retardant-to-battle-tanker-blaze-near-sri-lanka-884328.html" target="_blank">India rushes fire retardant to battle tanker blaze near Sri Lanka</a></strong></p>.<p>The stricken vessel has raised fears of an environmental disaster, but two oil slicks in its trail are the result of escaping marine fuel oil, rather than leaking crude.</p>.<p>A fire broke out in the engine room of the Greek-owned New Diamond tanker last Thursday. The blaze was believed to have been doused on Sunday but reignited a day later.</p>.<p>De Silva ruled out the possibility of fire breaking out again after a team of salvage experts visited the ship on Wednesday.</p>.<p>New Shipping Ltd, the manager of the Panama-flagged New Diamond, has appointed SMIT Singapore Pte Ltd as its salvage expert, he said.</p>.<p>There was no immediate comment from either company.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/fears-of-oil-spill-dissipates-fire-in-vessel-off-sri-lankan-coast-almost-put-off-883500.html" target="_blank">Fears of oil spill dissipates, fire in vessel off Sri Lankan coast almost put off</a></strong></p>.<p>A preliminary investigation by the salvage firm showed the presence of a toxic gas in and around the vessel, de Silva said, but gave no further details.</p>.<p>Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has said it plans to take action against the ship's owner under the country's laws to protect the marine ecosystem.</p>.<p>The oil slicks have been sprayed with chemical dispersants from a Dornier aircraft deployed by the Indian Coast Guard.</p>