15-06-2025
Wan Hai 503 accident: Containers from ship could land on Kerala coast
Kochi: Even as the Singapore-flagged container vessel MV Wan Hai 503 is being towed away into the deep sea off the Indian coast, containers that fell from the ship are likely to land in the southern part of Ernakulam district and on the coasts of Alappuzha and Kollam districts from Monday to Wednesday.
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Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has warned the public not to touch any object suspected to have fallen from the ship if they see it on the shore or coastal waters. It said that people should keep a distance of at least 200 metres and, when they see such objects, call 112 and inform the location of the object.
A GIS-based web app has been developed for gathering information about wreck debris found on the coast.
The app, developed with the support of ESRI India Ltd, can be downloaded by any user who finds suspicious debris likely from the ship. Details can be filled in English and Malayalam, and there is a provision to fill in the location so that officials can retrieve it safely.
According to officials of the coast guard and Indian Navy, the ship was currently towed 57 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. Work is underway to shift it further. There is still fire and smoke on the ship. A tug vessel, Offshore Warrior, is pulling the ship while the coast guard ship Saksham is fuelling the tug so that it continues to operate without disruption.
