At around 0930 hrs on Monday, Indian Coast Guard received distress alert from Singapore flagged container vessel Wan Hai 503, regarding explosion and subsequent fire onboard one of the containers, 88 Nautical miles from the coast of Beypore. The vessel had departed the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka with 22 crew onboard on 06 Jun25, for the Nhava Sheva Port, Mumbai, India with an estimated time of arrival 09 Jun 25.
On receipt of information, ICG assets were diverted immediately and are coordinating rescue operations for the crew. As of 1240 hrs, the resulting fire has been reported to have spread to other containers and the crew have abandoned the vessel into life rafts. ICG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Mumbai diverted MV One Marvel, which recovered 18 of the crew. Of the 18 crew rescued, one is reported to have sustained serious injuries. 04 crew (02 Taiwanese, 01 Indonesian and 01 Myanmarese) are missing from the time of explosion and their search is in progress. ICG Dornier aircraft is maintaining overhead the vessel for real-time assessment
The vessel is presently adrift and firefighting efforts by the Indian Coast Guard have commenced to bring the situation under control. The details of the cargo onboard are being ascertained to determine the nature of fire and the potential risks involved during firefighting operations.
ICG is maintaining coordination with DG Shipping, state administration and the vessel owners to devise the response plan for the evolving situation. Saving lives of the crew in distress, firefighting and mitigating environment hazard remains the priority for Coast Guard.
