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Friday Oct 03, 2025
Tuesday, 10 June 2025 03:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Singapore-flagged ship MV Wan Hai 503 yesterday caught fire 78 nautical miles away from the Beypore coast in Kerala.
On her way to Navi Mumbai, the ship caught fire 78 nautical miles away from Beypore on the Kerala coast, a Defence Spokesperson said in Kochi yesterday, adding that four of the ship’s 22 crew members are missing.
The vessel MV Wan Hai 503 remains adrift and continues to emit smoke due to the onboard fire. Five of the crew members were injured, two of them seriously. The crew, predominantly of Taiwanese nationality, have abandoned the ship in lifeboats and life rafts. The crew members will be picked up by the merchant vessel MV ONE MARVEL, which was alerted to help the vessel in distress, the Defence Spokesperson said in a statement.
MV Wan Hai 503 departed Colombo on 7 June and was slated to reach NPC Mumbai today. Around 10:30 a.m. yesterday, the Navy got information about the underdeck fire on board the ship. The fire has engulfed the entire vessel.
Official sources said the ship’s owners have been requested to promptly assess and report the nature of the cargo in the affected hold to ascertain the presence of any hazardous material. No information has yet been received on whether dangerous goods were involved in the explosion.
Five ships have been deployed by the Coast Guard and were expected to reach the scene by 4 p.m. Further, a naval warship operating in the area has been diverted and was expected to reach the location at approximately 5 p.m. The nearby merchant vessels MV AMBRA and MV ONE MARVEL have also been alerted and directed to proceed to the site to provide immediate assistance to the vessel in distress.
State Disaster Management Authority Member-Secretary Sekhar Kuriakose said the district collectors of Kozhikode and Ernakulam have been directed to ensure treatment for the injured once they are brought to the coast. “At present, we don’t have any information from the Coast Guard regarding any repercussions along the Kerala coast in the wake of the vessel fire,’’ he said.
On navigational hazards, a situation report said the fire posed a significant risk of further explosion. Any drifting containers or subsequent hazards to navigation will be assessed upon arrival of the Coast Guard vessels. All nearby traffic has been alerted to maintain a safe closet point of approach and speed reductions in the vicinity.
The Directorate of Shipping is in continuous liaison with the Coast Guard, Navy, and the ship management team for coordinated emergency response. The vessel is under the management of Wan Hai Lines and its owners have been directed to appoint a professional salvor and firefighting expert. Preliminary contact has been made with SMIT Salvage for specialised assistance.
The Flag Administration of Singapore has also been formally informed of the incident. A communication was issued by the shipping directorate, requesting that the owners be advised to immediately appoint qualified salvors and firefighting experts to assess the cargo situation and provide expert guidance to support ongoing firefighting operations led by the Coast Guard considering the nature of cargo carried on board.
(Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/singapore-container-ship-fire-kerala-coast-rescue-10056385/lite/)
