Major Fire Engulfs Singapore Container Ship Near Kerala Coast, 4 Crew Members Missing
A Singapore-flagged container vessel, the M V Wan Hai 503, caught fire approximately 78 nautical miles off Beypore, Kerala, while en route to Navi Mumbai, a defence spokesperson stated Monday. Four of the ship’s 22 crew members are missing following the incident.
The vessel remains adrift, emitting smoke from the onboard blaze. Five crew members sustained injuries, two seriously. The predominantly Taiwanese crew evacuated the ship using lifeboats and life rafts. They are set to be rescued by the merchant vessel MV ONE MARVEL, which responded to a distress call, the defence spokesperson confirmed.
The M V Wan Hai 503 had departed Colombo on June 7 and was scheduled to arrive at NPC Mumbai on June 10. The Indian Navy received reports of an underdeck fire around 10:30 AM Monday; the fire subsequently engulfed the entire ship.
Authorities have requested the ship’s owners to urgently identify the nature of the cargo in the affected hold to determine if hazardous materials were present. Official sources confirmed no information has yet been received regarding dangerous goods possibly involved.
Responding swiftly, the Indian Coast Guard deployed two Dornier aircraft, and the Navy deployed one. These aircraft, equipped with life rafts, are providing aerial support and assessing the situation. Additionally, two Coast Guard surface ships are en route and expected to reach the location within three hours. Five more Coast Guard ships are anticipated by 4 PM.
A nearby naval warship has been diverted and is estimated to arrive around 5 PM. Nearby merchant vessels MV AMBRA and MV ONE MARVEL have also been directed to assist.
Shekhar Kuriakose, member-secretary of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, stated that district collectors in Kozhikode and Ernakulam have been instructed to arrange medical treatment for the injured upon their arrival ashore. Kuriokose added that there is currently no information from the Coast Guard about potential coastal repercussions from the fire.
A situation report highlighted a significant risk of further explosions from the fire. Potential navigational hazards, like drifting containers, will be evaluated once Coast Guard vessels arrive. All nearby maritime traffic has been alerted to maintain a safe distance and reduce speed.
The Directorate of Shipping is coordinating the emergency response with the Coast Guard, Navy, and the ship’s management company, Wan Hai Lines. Wan Hai Lines has been directed to appoint professional salvors and firefighting experts. Preliminary contact has been made with SMIT Salvage for specialized assistance.
The Flag Administration of Singapore has been formally notified of the incident. The Directorate of Shipping also communicated with Singapore, urging that the shipowners immediately appoint qualified experts to assess the cargo and support the Coast Guard-led firefighting efforts, especially given the unknown nature of the cargo.