A multinational naval task force continued to fight the blaze on New Shipping’s 300,000-dwt New Diamond (built 2000) overnight, with Sri Lankan authorities confirming that one crew member had died.

The latest reports indicate that preparations are being made to tow the tanker further offshore.

The Sri Lanka Navy said on Friday morning that “preliminary information from the ship's crew confirmed that a Filipino seaman onboard had died in a boiler explosion”.