Two killed, two missing after fire erupts on VLCC in UAE waters

India’s consul general in Dubai has confirmed that two Indian sailors were killed in a fire on board a very large crude carrier (VLCC) anchored in waters 33 kilometres off Sharjah, UAE, on Wednesday, January 29.

Another two crewmembers have gone missing following the incident on the Panamanian-flagged Zoya 1, the same official added.

The incident remains under investigation, though local news outlets have reported that an explosion caused by ongoing maintenance works aboard the vessel had preceded the blaze.

A total of 12 crew and 44 technicians were on board Zoya 1, which was in ballast and had been undergoing preparations for eventual scrapping.