Firefighting Remains Difficult on Wan Hai 503; Intense Efforts to Prevent Ship from Sinking

Kochi: Firefighting operations are continuing for the second consecutive day after a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel, Wan Hai 503, caught fire off the Kerala coast while en route from Colombo to the Mumbai coast. The fire, which began around 9:30 AM on Monday, spread across the vessel, prompting fears that the ship may sink if the flames are not brought under control. The ship is now adrift without navigation or power, drifting approximately 78 nautical miles (129 kilometers) from Beypore port.
The Indian Coast Guard and Navy launched a coordinated response as the fire escalated. The Navy vessel INS Surat rescued 18 crew members who had jumped into the sea and disembarked them at Mangalore Port at 11:30 PM on Monday. Among those rescued were eight Chinese nationals, four each from Myanmar and Taiwan, and two Indonesians. Four crew members are reported missing.
Six severely injured crew members—Chinese nationals Lu Enli, Su Fabino, Guo Lenino; Myanmar nationals Thain Tha Hattai and Kai Sa Hottu; and Taiwanese national Sonitol Hasaini—have been admitted to AJ Hospital in Mangaluru. Two of them are in critical condition. Twelve others were shifted to the AJ Grand Hotel in the city.

The vessel, which is 270 meters long and 20 years old, was carrying 650 containers. It had departed from Colombo on Saturday and was scheduled to reach Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai by Tuesday morning. One of the containers reportedly exploded on board, triggering a series of multiple explosions that intensified the fire and caused several containers to fall into the sea.
The cargo includes highly flammable and hazardous materials, such as chemicals, toxic substances, and volatile liquids. The continued presence of these dangerous goods on board has raised fears of further explosions. A warning has been issued to all nearby vessels to maintain a safe distance from the drifting ship.
Efforts to contain the fire have so far failed. Indian Coast Guard ships Sachet and Samudra Prahari have been engaged in firefighting operations throughout the night. On Tuesday morning, a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft was deployed to conduct an aerial survey of the site. Additionally, Coast Guard vessel Samarth is on its way to the location with a salvage master on board.

Officials confirmed that the ship has lost directional control and continues to drift in open waters. With visibility hampered by smoke and intermittent explosions, rescue and firefighting operations remain challenging. Five Coast Guard vessels and an Indian Navy ship are currently involved in the mission, with support from aerial surveillance units.
Authorities are monitoring the situation closely as efforts continue to contain the fire and prevent the vessel from sinking.