Firefighting Operation Intensifies as Blaze Continues Aboard Wan Hai 503 off Kerala Coast

Kochi/Kozhikode: Efforts to douse the fire aboard the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel MV Wan Hai 503 have intensified as multiple agencies, including the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Air Force, and Marine Emergency Response Centre (MERC), continue their operations for the fourth consecutive day. The vessel, which caught fire earlier this week following a container explosion while en route from Colombo to Mumbai, remains adrift in the Arabian Sea, southeast of the Kerala coast.
Currently, the fire has been brought under control by around 40 per cent, according to updates from the Directorate General (DG) of Shipping. The ship is unmanned but afloat, and thick smoke continues to rise from several containers onboard. The forward cargo holds remain the focal point of firefighting operations, with Coast Guard ships Samudra Prahari and Samarth using foam and boundary cooling techniques to prevent the fire from spreading further.
In a coordinated operation, salvage experts and Coast Guard divers managed to board the vessel, including the Salvage Master who is now stationed onboard to monitor the evolving situation. The ship, which had drifted nearly 44 nautical miles from its original position, was brought under partial control after fire on the bow was subdued. This enabled a team, deployed via a Coast Guard helicopter, to board the vessel and successfully secure a towline to the tugboat Water Lily. The tow connection, previously attempted unsuccessfully, was finally established through joint efforts by the MERC team and Coast Guard personnel. This has helped stabilize the ship and ensure it does not drift back towards the coast.
The Indian Air Force also joined the firefighting mission, with helicopters arriving on Thursday to drop powdered fire-suppressant chemicals over the burning sections of the vessel. Officials hope this intervention will help fully contain the fire by evening. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard and the ship owner’s salvage teams continue to use water to suppress flames that have already spread to multiple containers.
Hydrocarbon vapours have been detected near the ship’s fuel tanks, indicating possible heat transfer, which poses an additional risk. Continuous onboard monitoring is underway to detect any escalation. The fire and explosions have caused the ship to tilt between 10 and 15 degrees. However, rescue teams confirm that the tilt has not worsened.
The search and rescue operations are also ongoing, with Coast Guard vessels Rajdoot, Arnvesh, Abhinav, and ICGS 513 scanning the area. Of the 22 crew members who were onboard when the fire broke out, 18 have been rescued, while four remain missing.
Authorities are holding daily coordination meetings involving the DG Shipping, Indian Navy, maritime agencies, and representatives of the ship’s owners. Additional firefighting materials, including more foam and dry chemical powder, are being transported to support the ongoing operations.
Although the fire’s intensity has somewhat decreased and the region has witnessed some rainfall, the situation remains critical due to the presence of hazardous cargo and the potential risk of hydrocarbon explosions. Stabilisation work continues as agencies race against time to ensure the safety of the coastline and prevent environmental damage.