Fire Breaks Out on Singapore-Flagged Container Ship Near Kerala Coast
Incident Overview
A container ship registered in Singapore caught fire while en route to Navi Mumbai, as reported by the Indian Coast Guard on Monday. The incident occurred off the coast of Kerala.
Crew Status and Rescue Operations
Of the 22 crew members aboard, four are currently unaccounted for, while the others have been successfully rescued. A search operation is actively ongoing to locate the missing individuals.
According to officials from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, 18 crew members managed to escape the flames by jumping into the sea and utilizing emergency rafts. The fire erupted in the midsection of the MV Wan Hai 503.
The rescued crew members were transported to Mangaluru in Karnataka for medical attention.
Details of the Incident
The fire broke out while the vessel was near Beypore port, approximately 130 nautical miles northwest of Kochi. The ship was carrying over 650 containers, including 150 that contained hazardous materials. Reports indicate that 20 containers fell into the sea following multiple explosions and the subsequent fire.
Initial investigations suggest that a container explosion may have triggered the blaze, which continued to emit smoke as of Monday night.
Rescue Efforts and International Response
Update on #MVWanHai503 Incident.
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) June 9, 2025
A major firefighting and rescue operation is underway following a fire onboard #Singapore-flagged container vessel MV Wan Hai 503, 130 NM North -West of #Kochi. @IndiaCoastGuard has mobilized multiple assets to assist in dousing the blaze and… pic.twitter.com/2I2atLW03t
Five coast guard vessels and an aircraft have been deployed for rescue operations and surveillance, as stated by officials from the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre in Kochi.
The ship had set sail from Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Saturday and was scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Simon Wong, the Singaporean High Commissioner, praised the swift response of the Indian Coast Guard and Navy, expressing hopes for the safe recovery of the remaining crew members.
Missing Crew Members
Among the four missing crew members, two are Taiwanese, one is Indonesian, and another hails from Myanmar.
The ship's owners have been asked to evaluate and report on the nature of the cargo in the affected area to determine if hazardous materials were involved. As of now, there is no confirmation regarding the presence of dangerous goods related to the explosion.
Recent Maritime Incidents
This incident follows closely on the heels of another maritime disaster, where a Liberian-flagged container ship sank off the Kochi coast on May 25 while carrying hazardous cargo. All 24 crew members were rescued during that event.
On May 29, the Kerala government classified the wreckage of that container ship as a state-specific disaster, noting it was transporting 13 containers of hazardous materials, including 12 containing calcium carbide.