Singapore-flagged cargo ship catches fire off Kerala coast, 4 crew members missing

Multiple explosions and fires broke out on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship WAN HAI 503, bound for Mumbai, on Monday.

The incident caused 40 containers to fall into the Arabian Sea and forced several crew members to jump overboard to escape the flames, officials said.

The accident occurred about 144 km (90 miles) off Kerala’s coast, near Azhikkal, and approximately 130 nautical miles northwest of Kochi. The Indian Navy received the distress signal at 0930 hrs on June 9 through the Indian Fleet Command, Indian Ocean Region (IFC IOR).

INS Surat and a Dornier aircraft were immediately dispatched to the site. By 1630 hrs, INS Surat had rescued 18 crew members, who received first aid. The vessel is currently heading to New Mangalore for disembarkation and further medical treatment.

The ship had 22 crew members onboard from different nationalities: 8 Chinese, 6 Taiwanese, 5 Myanmarese, and 3 Indonesians. After an explosion inside a container triggered a major fire, the crew abandoned the ship.

Four crew members remain missing, and search and rescue operations are ongoing.

Preliminary reports indicate that 10 to 15 containers fell overboard during the incident, with 40 reported lost in total. The ship was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, expected to arrive on June 10.

The fire rapidly engulfed the ship’s midsection, which is now adrift and emitting dense smoke. The onboard fire poses ongoing risks of further explosions and structural damage. 

The Singapore Flag Administration has been formally notified. India’s Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has instructed the ship’s owners to engage qualified salvors and firefighting experts immediately.

Maritime authorities have advised vessels to maintain a safe distance from the burning ship due to the risk of further explosions. 

The Indian Coast Guard responded quickly, deploying two Dornier aircraft equipped with life rafts for aerial surveillance and assessment. Five Coast Guard ships, including specialized firefighting and pollution response vessels, were dispatched to the scene.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Mumbai activated the International Safety Net (ISN), prompting nearby merchant vessels MV AMBRA and MV ONE MARVEL to divert and assist. The distress alert was initially relayed by the MV Cape Valencia. 

With inputs from ANI and IANS