Monday September 22, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — A cargo vessel carrying food supplies for Somali traders in Puntland caught fire Monday while anchored off Porbandar in India’s Gujarat state, Indian officials and port authorities said.
The vessel, identified as Haridharshan, had departed from Jamnagar and was bound for Bosaso, the commercial hub of Somalia’s Bari region. It was loaded with about 950 tons of rice and 78 tons of sugar owned by Somali businessmen.
All 14 crew members were safely evacuated as the fire spread. Fire crews received the alert at 6:40 a.m. local time and arrived within ten minutes, deploying three engines to fight the blaze. Additional coast guard units assisted in the operation.
Authorities said the vessel was towed roughly one kilometre into open waters to prevent damage to the jetty and nearby ships. The fire, which burned in the cargo hold, caused extensive damage to the rice cargo and posed a risk of spreading to diesel tanks on board. No casualties were reported.
The ship was operated by HRM & Sons, based in Jamnagar. A preliminary assessment suggests the blaze may have been caused by a short circuit, though the exact cause is still under investigation.
Bosaso serves as one of Somalia’s busiest ports, handling much of the rice, sugar and other staples that supply markets across Puntland and the wider Horn of Africa.