The MV Wan Hai 503 cargo ship, bound for Mumbai, suffered a catastrophic fire following an internal explosion, prompting swift rescue efforts. While 18 of the 22 crew members have been rescued, four are reported missing. The incident raises environmental concerns as containers and oil drift towards Kerala's coastline.
Rescue Operations Underway as Singapore-Flagged Cargo Ship Catches Fire Off Kerala Coast
Rescue Operations Underway as Singapore-Flagged Cargo Ship Catches Fire Off Kerala Coast
Ambiguous fate of four crew members remains uncertain as Indian naval forces battle fire onboard the MV Wan Hai 503, amid environmental concerns over oil spill risks.
The Indian Coast Guard continues to combat a major fire on the MV Wan Hai 503, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship, that erupted in the Arabian Sea near Kerala on Monday. The vessel, en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Mumbai, India, experienced a large internal explosion, which ignited the fire.
Rescue efforts have been brisk; eighteen crew members have been saved, but four remain unaccounted for. A joint effort has seen Singapore dispatch a team to aid in the ongoing rescue operations. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued alerts in anticipation of potential oil spills and debris washing ashore.
Visuals released Tuesday reveal substantial smoke billowing from MV Wan Hai 503 as naval forces strive to extinguish the inferno. The Coast Guard has reported ongoing fires and explosions on the ship. To date, the defense ministry confirms that the crew abandoned the ship in life boats just prior to their rescue by the Navy.
Of the four missing, two are Taiwanese nationals, one is from Myanmar, and the last from Indonesia. The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) is actively involved in organizing additional search and rescue efforts.
Kerala Ports Minister VN Vasavan reported that approximately 50 containers fell into the sea during the incident. With the ship carrying about 100 tonnes of bunker oil, concerns are growing about the environmental impact, as these containers are currently adrift along Kerala's coastline. INCOIS has warned that they may wash ashore within the next few days.
This incident marks the second potentially hazardous maritime occurrence near Kerala’s shores in mere weeks. Last month, a Liberian-flagged vessel sank with oil and other hazardous materials, prompting the local government to implement a fishing ban in a 20-nautical mile radius around the wreck site. The state government aims to protect its biodiverse marine ecosystem and tourism interests amidst ongoing environmental threats.
