Fire and Explosion on Singaporean Container Ship near Kerala Coast. 18 Crew Members Rescued, 4 Missing, and 5 Injured. Navy and Coast Guard Launch Rescue Operation.
Kerala: A fire and explosion aboard a Singaporean container ship approximately 88 nautical miles off the Kerala coast has caused alarm in the maritime region. The incident occurred on Monday, June 10th, while the ‘MV WAN HAI 503’ was en route from Colombo to Mumbai. The Indian Coast Guard and Navy immediately launched a rescue operation.
Ship En Route from Sri Lanka to Mumbai
The vessel departed Colombo Port on June 7th, 2025, and was scheduled to reach Mumbai by June 10th. A total of 22 crew members were on board. According to the Indian Navy, the container ship was approximately 270 meters long with a 12.5-meter draft, classifying it as a large vessel.
Container Explosion Ignited Fire
According to the Coast Guard, the rescue team was activated immediately upon receiving an emergency alert from the container ship. Reports indicate an explosion within one of the containers ignited a large fire. The flames spread to other containers, escalating the severity of the situation.
Four Crew Members Missing, Five Injured
While 18 crew members were rescued using life rafts, four remain missing. The missing individuals include two Taiwanese, one Indonesian, and one Myanmar national. Additionally, five others sustained burn injuries and are receiving treatment.
Immediate Navy Action
The Navy reported that the Mumbai Maritime Operations Centre received news of the explosion at 10:30 AM, subsequently alerting the Kochi department. Around 11:00 AM, the Western Naval Command activated a rescue plan, recognizing the severity of the situation.
INS Surat and INS Garuda Deployed to the Mission
Given the seriousness of the situation, INS Surat was deployed for the rescue mission. Additionally, a Dornier Surveillance Aircraft from Kochi's INS Garuda air station was prepared to assess the situation and provide assistance.
Ajikkal Port Officer Arun Kumar stated that the ship carried four types of hazardous materials classified under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code as flammable liquids, combustible solids, and toxic substances. This necessitates special precautions in extinguishing the fire.
Kerala Maritime Board Closely Monitoring
The Chairman, CEO, and other senior officials of the Kerala Maritime Board are in contact with the Coast Guard and monitoring the rescue operation. Specific guidelines have been issued to prevent any environmental damage in the coastal region.
