Singapore-flagged cargo ship fire: Heavy rain slows down rescue efforts

Indian Navy and Coast Guard battle fire on MV Wan Hai 503, with hazardous cargo raising environmental concerns.

The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard on Wednesday (June 11, 2025) continued to battle the fire and explosions on the Singapore-flagged container ship MV Wan Hai 503 that started on June 9. However, the adverse weather conditions have slowed down the operations considerably.

Official sources say that the fire and explosions were particularly concentrated from mid-ships to the container bay ahead of the accommodation block. Navy sources said that the smoke has subsided to some level as a result of the heavy rain in the sea but that the fire was still not under control. Besides, the ship is tilting approximately 10-15 degrees to the left side, as a result of which around 50 containers have fallen overboard.

Of the 22 crew members on board, 18 were rescued by the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. However, four crew members remain missing (two from Taiwan, one from Indonesia, and one from Myanmar). Search and rescue operations are ongoing, supported by aircraft and multiple Indian naval and coast guard vessels. Of the five injured members of the crew undergoing treatment at Mangaluru, a Chinese national has been discharged while two others are still in the intensive care unit.

Meanwhile, the vessel was carrying hazardous cargo, including environmentally hazardous substances, resin solutions, flammable liquids, pesticides, and other chemicals, that have raised significant environmental concerns, especially regarding a potential oil spill and the impact on marine life along the Kerala coastline. The containers that fell overboard are reportedly drifting south and more likely to hit the shores of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka rather than anywhere in Kerala. However, the extent of damage that the dangerous chemicals could cause, if they are exposed to the sea water, is yet to be assessed.

The Indian Coast Guard and the Navy are actively engaged in firefighting operations and boundary cooling. Two tugs are expected to reach the site, and salvors are also arriving. The immediate concern is on containing the drift and stabilizing the vessel. Meanwhile, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has sent a team to support the Indian authorities in the rescue and investigation efforts. China has expressed gratitude for India’s swift response, as 14 of the crew members are Chinese nationals (including 6 from Taiwan).

The authorities have denied permission for the vessel to be docked at any of the Indian ports and the shipping firm has been instructed to take it off Indian waters after the fire is doused.

Meanwhile, the Kerala government has issued a high alert in its coastal areas and advised fishermen not to venture near the site. Water samples and sediments are being collected and tested from coastal waters to assess any environmental impact.