Towline Connected To Burning Ship Carrying Hazardous Cargo Near Kerala

The Indian Coast Guard along with the salvage team successfully connected a towline to the burning Singapore-flagged cargo ship, MV Wan Hai 503, drifting off Kerala’s coast.

The ship caught fire, around 44 nautical miles off the Beypore coast, on June 9 and is carrying 1,754 containers, including 143 filled with hazardous materials such as pesticides, flammable liquids, solid chemicals, styrene, and microplastics.

The ship also holds around 2,000 tonnes of fuel oil and 240 tonnes of diesel oil in tanks located near the fire zone, according to official updates.

On June 11, two days after the fire started, a joint team from the Indian Coast Guard and the MERC Salvage Master (from Gujarat’s Vishwakarma group) managed to connect a towline to the burning ship.

This was made possible after five salvage crew members and an aircrew diver were lowered onto the ship’s front section by an ICG helicopter. Despite the fire, thick smoke, and extreme heat, they managed to connect the vessel to the tugboat Water Lily.

Officials called the towline connection a major breakthrough. As per the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), the fire started in the front bays and is now about 40% under control, but it is still burning inside the ship and near the fuel tanks. No major structural damage has been observed yet, but the ship is listing to one side by around 15°, and thermal and gas-related risks remain high.

Update on #MVWanHai503.#Singapore flagged container vessel MV Wan Hai 503 continues to drift approx 42 NM off #Beypore, #Kerala, within #India’s EEZ. Carrying 2,128 MT of fuel and hazardous cargo, it still poses environmental risk. @IndiaCoastGuard, with air and sea assets, has… pic.twitter.com/AXusjzx7UL

— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) June 11, 2025

Experts are worried the fire could lead to a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion), a dangerous explosion that happens when flammable liquid turns into vapor under extreme heat. If vapors from the fuel tanks catch fire, it could cause a massive blast, threatening both the environment and nearby areas.

According to the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), multiple containers have already fallen into the sea due to the fire. These are now drifting towards the Kerala coast, especially between Kozhikode and Thrissur, and may also reach parts of south Tamil Nadu and even Sri Lanka in the coming days, depending on wind and current patterns. The number of lost containers has not been officially confirmed, but some have burst open in the water.

Authorities are considering the possibility of sinking floating containers that pose a navigation threat. INCOIS said that the ship’s current drift has slightly changed where these containers might reach. Meanwhile, water and sediment samples are being collected from coastal areas to assess potential environmental contamination.

The vessel is now located about 65 nautical miles off the coast and is drifting slowly in a south-southeasterly direction at one knot. It remains unmanned and continues to emit smoke.

Initial plans were being discussed to tow the ship to a safer location in the central Arabian Sea, away from international shipping routes and regional coastlines. Authorities also considered New Mangalore Port as a possible docking point if the fire could be fully brought under control.

Update on #MVWanHai503 incident:

Firefighting Ops by @IndiaCoastGuard have significantly reduced the blaze onboard MV WAN HAI 503. In joint efforts with @IAF_MCC, 4000 kg of #DCP has been air-dropped for controlling metal fire. Vessel held safely away from coast. No oil… pic.twitter.com/CW5SRQIjRD

— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) June 12, 2025

Foam and dry chemical fire suppressants are being used for boundary cooling and container recovery.

Tug Saroja Blessing, which has already been deployed, carries 80 kg of firefighting foam and will soon be equipped with an additional 1,000 kg. A total of five support vessels are now engaged in firefighting and container retrieval operations.

International firefighting specialists from Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands have been identified and are expected to join the operation within 72 hours, pending visa clearance.

Of the 22 crew members onboard the ship, 18 have been rescued by Indian Navy and Coast Guard teams. Four crew members, including two from Taiwan, one from Indonesia, and one from Myanmar are still missing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing using ICG ships Rajdoot, Arnvesh, and Abhinav, along with aerial support.

Among the rescued, five sustained injuries. One Chinese national has been discharged after treatment, while two others remain in intensive care in a Mangaluru hospital. The remaining crew members are staying at a hotel in New Mangalore.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has sent a team to assist Indian authorities with firefighting and investigation. Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of Ports has issued a warning to the ship’s management, demanding immediate action for oil extraction from the ship.

A formal notice was sent, criticising the salvage team’s progress as slow and below expected timelines. The ministry stated legal action would be taken if extraction efforts did not begin by Friday.

References: The Hindu, Hindustan Times

Source: Maritime Shipping News