NEW DELHI (AP) — The Indian Coast Guard has been actively working to tow a container ship that caught fire off the coast of Kerala, southern India, in an effort to prevent a potential ecological disaster. Authorities reported that the Singapore-flagged MV Wan Hai 503 was en route from the Sri Lankan port of Colombo to Mumbai when it experienced multiple explosions, leading to a fire approximately 88 nautical miles from Beypore on June 7.
While Indian officials have not disclosed the cause of the explosions and fire, their immediate focus has been on extinguishing the fire and preventing the vessel from drifting toward the Indian coastline. The MV Wan Hai 503, measuring 890 feet, was carrying 2,128 metric tons of fuel along with hundreds of containers that included hazardous materials, as confirmed by India's defense ministry in a statement released on Wednesday night.
The ministry noted that efforts to establish a towline to pull the vessel away from the coast are in progress, while the fire continues to pose a critical situation being monitored closely. Although visible flames have significantly lessened, the blaze persists on the ship's inner decks and near the fuel tanks. A situation report from India’s Directorate General of Shipping indicated that approximately 40% of the onboard fire has been controlled, and the ship remains afloat.
On Thursday morning, the Coast Guard initiated an aerial firefighting operation using an Indian Air Force helicopter. According to Commandant Amit Uniyal, the helicopter released 1,000 kilograms of dry chemical powder onto the core fire areas of the vessel. Captain Harinder Singh, a shipping official, disclosed that the ship contained a total of 1,754 containers, with 143 classified as dangerous by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, including flammable liquids and toxic substances.
The explosions and subsequent fire resulted in numerous containers falling into the Arabian Sea. On Wednesday, the Coast Guard managed to airdrop five personnel onto the unaffected stern of the ship to coordinate towing operations and evaluate the fire situation. They successfully established a towline connecting the vessel to a Coast Guard ship to control its drift, and there are plans to set up a second towline with the Offshore Warrior, a more powerful offshore supply vessel, to enhance towing effectiveness.
The onboard salvage master observed hydrocarbon vapors, suggesting possible heat transfer near the fuel tanks, adding to the urgency of the situation. The vessel is managed by Wan Hai Lines, a Singapore-based company. Out of the 22 crew members on board, 18 were rescued with the assistance of the navy and Coast Guard; however, four crew members remain missing, prompting the initiation of a search operation using two Dornier aircrafts, primarily for surveillance and rescue efforts. Five ships have been dispatched to assist in firefighting operations.
In a related context, just last month, another container vessel sank off the Kerala coast, dispersing 100 cargo containers into the Arabian Sea and necessitating urgent measures to address an oil spill. This previous incident adds to the ongoing challenges faced by Indian authorities in safeguarding marine and coastal environments amid maritime accidents.
