India Battles Container Ship Fire With ‘Hazardous’ Cargo

Indian Coast Guard vessels Samudra Prahari and Sachet are conducting firefighting and boundary cooling operations, while ICG Samarth and salvage teams are being deployed from Kochi. 

The 4,300 TEU Wan Hai 503, operating on the China–India Express (CIX) service jointly run by Wan Hai, Hapag-Lloyd, Evergreen, and Interasia, was en route from Colombo to Nhava Sheva when the incident occurred approximately 70 nautical miles west of Beypore, Kerala. 

“The vessel is currently immobilised off the Indian coast. Firefighting and salvage efforts are being coordinated by the relevant authorities,” Hapag-Lloyd said in a customer advisory.  “The full impact on the cargo is still being assessed. Initial reports indicate that some containers may have been affected or lost during the incident.” 

Wan Hai 503 is reportedly carrying hazardous cargo, according to The Times of India, raising concerns over the impact on the firefighting efforts as well as the marine environment. 

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in an update that 18 crew members who abandoned ship have been rescued and are being transported aboard an Indian Navy ship to New Mangalore Port. Of these, five have sustained injuries and are receiving treatment onboard. 

Four seafarers — two from Taiwan, one from Myanmar, and one from Indonesia — remain unaccounted for, and search and rescue efforts are ongoing, supported by aircraft and three Indian naval and coast guard vessels. 

“MPA expresses its appreciation to the Indian authorities for their swift response in recovering the 18 crew and for their support for the ongoing SAR operations,” MPA Singapore said. “A team from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore is en route to support the Indian authorities.” 

Local media reported that the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned of a 70–80% probability that containers, debris, and possibly persons overboard may drift south-southeastwards from the site of the Wan Hai 503 incident over the next three days. The vessel is reportedly carrying around 100 tonnes of bunker oil, raising fears of a possible oil spill off the Kerala coast. An Oil Spill Trajectory System has been deployed to forecast the potential movement and dispersion of oil using advanced ocean circulation models.