A devastating fire broke out on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship MV Wan Hai 503 on Monday, resulting in four crew members going missing. The vessel, which was en route to Mumbai from Colombo, reported an internal container explosion, triggering a major fire onboard. Eighteen crew members were rescued and brought ashore, where some are receiving treatment for injuries.
The Indian Coast Guard and Navy are working tirelessly to contain the fire, with footage showing large plumes of smoke emanating from the ship. Despite their efforts, fires and explosions continue to be seen on the vessel. According to Commandant Amit Uniyal of the Indian Coast Guard, 50 containers from the ship had fallen into the sea, and the vessel was carrying 100 tonnes of bunker oil, posing a significant threat to the coastal ecosystem.
The search and rescue operation is ongoing, with the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) confirming that four crew members are still missing – two from Taiwan, one from Myanmar, and one from Indonesia. The MPA has sent a team to assist in the rescue efforts. Kerala Ports Minister VN Vasavan expressed concern about the potential oil spill and debris from the ship, stating that containers that fell from it were drifting along the coast of Kerala and could drift towards its coastline in the next three days.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of maritime operations in the region. This is the second such incident in three weeks near the Kerala coast, following a Liberian-flagged vessel carrying oil and hazardous cargo that leaked and sank in the Arabian Sea. The state government had banned fishing within a 20-nautical mile radius of the shipwreck and announced compensation for families from fishing communities in four affected districts. With Kerala’s coastal stretch rich in biodiversity and a vital tourist destination, the impact of this incident could be far-reaching.