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Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
India battles container ship fire with ‘hazardous' cargo
The 268m Singapore-flagged container ship caught fire on Monday. (Indian coast guard/AFP pic) NEW DELHI : India's coast guard said it was battling to extinguish fires raging on a container ship carrying 'hazardous' cargo off the southern coast to prevent a 'potential ecological disaster'. The 268m Singapore-flagged container vessel MV Wan Hai 503, carrying 22 crew members, four of whom are missing, caught fire about 78 nautical miles off India's Beypore port on Monday. Photographs released by the coast guard soon after the blaze broke out showed heavy containers scattered about the vessel, as if hurled up by a powerful explosion. Since then, fire has engulfed the ship. 'The vessel is carrying 2,128 metric tons of fuel and hundreds of containers, including hazardous cargo, posing a serious risk to the marine environment and regional shipping routes,' the coast guard said in a statement late Wednesday. It did not provide more details on the contents of the cargo, but said that 'the situation remains critical'. Eighteen crew members were rescued by the Indian coast guard and navy. Four crew — one from Indonesia, two from Taiwan and one from Myanmar — were listed as missing. The coast guard said it had 'winched five salvage team members' and a diver onto the burning ship. 'With the fire yet to be fully extinguished, efforts to establish a towline and pull the vessel away from the coast are underway to prevent a potential ecological disaster', it said. 'Intensive firefighting efforts have significantly reduced visible flames', it added. 'However, the fire remains active in the inner decks and near fuel tanks.' Seven vessels, including five coast guard vessels as well as airplanes and a helicopter, were engaged in trying to put out the fire. The MV Wan Hai 503 container ship is the second to run into trouble off India's southern coast within weeks. A Liberian-flagged container ship, also with hazardous cargo, sank off the coast of Kerala late last month. The Indian navy rescued all 24 crew members.
Associated Press
12-06-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Indian authorities attempt to tow container ship on fire with dangerous cargo off southern coast
NEW DELHI (AP) — The Indian Coast Guard was attempting to tow a container ship that caught fire off the coast of Kerala in southern India earlier this week to prevent a potential ecological disaster, Indian authorities said Thursday. The Singapore-flagged MV Wan Hai 503 was on its way to Mumbai, India's financial capital, from the Sri Lankan port of Colombo on June 7 when it reported multiple explosions and a subsequent fire some 88 nautical miles from the coast of Beypore in Kerala on Monday. Indian authorities have not yet given a reason for the explosions and fire. Officials were focused on firefighting and preventing the vessel from drifting towards the Indian coastline. The 890-foot vessel carried 2,128 metric tons of fuel and hundreds of containers, including hazardous cargo, India's defense ministry said in a statement on Wednesday night. 'With the fire yet to be fully extinguished, efforts to establish a towline to pull the vessel away from the coast are underway,' the ministry said. 'The situation remains critical and is being monitored continuously.' The firefighting efforts have significantly reduced visible flames, but the fire remains active on the ship's inner decks and near the fuel tanks, the ministry added. Around 40% of the fire onboard the ship has been brought under control and the vessel remains afloat, according to a situation report by India's Directorate General of Shipping. The coast guard launched an aerial firefighting operation Thursday morning using a helicopter from the Indian air force, Commandant Amit Uniyal, a spokesperson for the coast guard, said. The helicopter dispersed 1,000 kilograms of dry chemical powder onto the core fire areas of the ship, he added. Shipping official Captain Harinder Singh told The Associated Press the vessel was carrying a total of 1,754 containers, including 143 with cargo deemed dangerous by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, such as flammable liquids, toxic substances and solid hazardous materials. The explosions and subsequent fire caused dozens of the ship's containers to fall into the Arabian Sea. The coast guard on Wednesday airdropped five people onboard the unaffected stern of the ship to coordinate towing operations and assess the overall fire situation. The coast guard successfully established a towline from the vessel to a coast guard ship to control its drift. Singh, who is closely coordinating the operation, said authorities were working to establish a second towline with Offshore Warrior, a more powerful offshore supply ship with greater towing capabilities. Towing is expected to commence later Thursday. The salvage master onboard the ship observed hydrocarbon vapors which indicates possible heat transfer near fuel tanks, the report said. The vessel is managed by Singapore-based Wan Hai Lines. Of the 22 crew members onboard, 18 abandoned the ship with assistance from the navy and coast guard. Four are still missing. The navy and coast guard have launched a search operation for the missing, aided by two Dornier aircrafts. The navy uses Dornier aircraft primarily for maritime surveillance, search and rescue operations. Five ships have also been sent to help put out the fire. Last month, a container vessel sank in another accident off the Kerala coast, releasing 100 cargo containers into the Arabian Sea, and leaving authorities in the state scrambling to contain an oil spill.
CNA
12-06-2025
- General
- CNA
India battles fire on Singapore-registered container ship with 'hazardous' cargo
NEW DELHI: India's coast guard said it was battling to extinguish fires raging on a container ship carrying "hazardous" cargo off the southern coast to prevent a "potential ecological disaster". The 268m Singapore-flagged container vessel MV Wan Hai 503, carrying 22 crew members - four of whom are missing - caught fire about 78 nautical miles off India's Beypore port on Monday (Jun 9). Photographs released by the coast guard soon after the blaze broke out showed heavy containers scattered about the vessel, as if hurled up by a powerful explosion. Since then, fire has engulfed the ship. "The vessel is carrying 2,128 metric tons of fuel and hundreds of containers, including hazardous cargo, posing a serious risk to the marine environment and regional shipping routes," the coast guard said in a statement late Wednesday. It did not provide more details on the contents of the cargo, but said that "the situation remains critical". Eighteen crew members were rescued by the Indian coast guard and navy. Four crew - one from Indonesia, two from Taiwan and one from Myanmar - were listed as missing. The coast guard said it had "winched five salvage team members" and a diver onto the burning ship. "With the fire yet to be fully extinguished, efforts to establish a towline and pull the vessel away from the coast are underway to prevent a potential ecological disaster", it said. "Intensive firefighting efforts ... have significantly reduced visible flames", it added. "However, the fire remains active in the inner decks and near fuel tanks." Seven vessels, including five coast guard vessels as well as airplanes and a helicopter, were engaged in trying to put out the fire. The MV Wan Hai 503 container ship is the second to run into trouble off India's southern coast within weeks.
Independent Singapore
11-06-2025
- General
- Independent Singapore
4 missing as fire rages on Singapore-flagged container ship off India's southwest coast
NEW DELHI: A massive fire aboard a Singapore-registered container ship, MV Wan Hai 503, has left four crew members missing and several injured, in an incident that continues to unfold off the southwestern coast of India. The fire broke out on June 9 at around 12.30 p.m., when the vessel was approximately 80 kilometres (78 nautical miles) southwest of Azhikkal, Kerala, near India's Beypore Port. The ship, which measures 268 metres in length, was carrying 22 crew members at the time of the incident. Eighteen crew members have been rescued, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Indian authorities, while search and rescue operations remain ongoing for the four missing personnel, identified as two Taiwanese nationals, one Myanmar national, and one Indonesian. Fire and explosions persist The Indian Coast Guard reported on Tuesday that the vessel continues to burn, with repeated explosions erupting from the cargo stacks. The ship is now tilting at a dangerous angle of 10 to 15 degrees, raising concerns about its structural stability. Photo: Indian Coast Guard's Twitter Photographs released by the Indian Coast Guard show towering flames and billowing black smoke, with burning containers stacked atop one another, some appearing to have been thrown by an internal blast. Several containers have also fallen into the sea. Video footage from the scene shows coastguard ships surrounding the blackened vessel, directing high-powered water jets at the flames in an effort to contain the blaze. Coordinated rescue and medical response The 18 rescued crew members were brought safely to New Mangalore Port, where six injured were sent to shore-based medical facilities. Three of the injured have since been discharged, MPA confirmed. Indian authorities have deployed additional firefighting vessels, with two more expected to arrive on-site by Tuesday evening to bolster containment efforts. Aerial surveillance is also being conducted to aid in the search-and-rescue operations for the missing crew members. Coordinating technical and environmental assessment The ship is operated by Wan Hai Lines (Singapore). Singapore's MPA said it is working closely with the vessel owner, its classification society, and Indian authorities to provide technical support to stabilise the ship and manage the fire. MPA added that it is also monitoring the potential environmental impact of the incident, given the vessel's heavy cargo and proximity to sensitive maritime zones. 'MPA is monitoring the situation in close coordination with the Indian authorities, including supporting the assessment of the vessel's structural integrity and the potential for environmental impact,' the agency said in a statement. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and an investigation is underway. A race against time As the fire spreads throughout the ship, the fate of the four missing crew remains uncertain. Efforts from both Indian and Singaporean authorities are intensifying to bring the situation under control. For now, the focus remains on suppressing the fire, stabilising the vessel, and locating the missing individuals. This incident adds to a growing number of maritime emergencies in the region, underscoring the risks faced by seafarers and the crucial role of coordinated international response mechanisms in managing such high-stakes disasters. See also Outsider to shake up Hong Kong
Times of Oman
11-06-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
Indian Coast Guard working to combat fire on Singapore-flagged container ship
Kochi: The Indian Coast Guard is continuously working to combat the fire that engulfed the Singapore-flagged container ship MV Wan Hai 503. It said attempts were being made to control the vessel fire that injured several crew members. Of the 22 crew members, 18 were rescued by the Indian Navy, while four are still missing. According to the Indian Coast Guard, as of 5:00 PM on Tuesday, the flames on the container ship were reduced, as thick smoke continued to emanate. "Indian Coast Guard ships continue to fight the fire and attempt to bring the inferno on the container ship MV WAN HAI 503 under control off Kerala coast. Visible flames have reduced, and thick smoke continues to emanate as of 1700 hours today," the Indian Coast Guard said. Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in India spokesperson Yu Jing on Tuesday expressed gratitude to the Indian Navy and the Mumbai Coast Guard for their prompt and professional rescue of its crew members onboard the Singapore-flagged container ship MV Wan Hai 503, which encountered an onboard explosion and fire 44 nautical miles off Kerala's Azhikkal. According to Yu Jing, Chinese and Taiwanese crew members were among those onboard MV Wan Hai. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson wished for successful search operations and speedy recovery for injured crew members. "On June 9, MV Wan Hai 503 encountered onboard explosion and fire 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal, Kerala. Of the total 22 crew members on board, 14 are Chinese, including 6 from Taiwan. Our gratitude goes to the Indian Navy @indiannavy and the Mumbai Coast Guard for their prompt and professional rescue. We wish further search operations successful and the injured crew members speedy recovery," Yu Jing posted on X. Four crew members were reported missing and five injured after an explosion under deck was reported onboard MV WAN HAI 503 while it was on passage from Colombo to Nhava Sheva. Indian Coast Guard ships have been deployed for firefighting and rescue operations. According to the Indian Coast Guard, four crew members were reported missing following the explosion on Monday, and five others sustained injuries. The vessel was carrying containerised cargo and had a total crew of 22 onboard. CGDO on task was diverted for assessment. Of the 18 rescued crew members of the Singapore-flagged MV Wan Hai 503, six were brought to the AJ Hospital for medical treatment post-midnight on Tuesday. Dinesh Kadam, Plastic Surgeon at AJ Hospital, said that two rescuees had critical injuries with 35 to 40 per cent burns. The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Surat, carrying the rescued crew members who sustained injuries in the vessel fire, had arrived at the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), Panambur. According to Plastic Surgeon Kadam, the six rescuees are from multiple nationalities, including Chinese and Indonesian. Of the six rescued crew members, two have suffered critical injuries. "We have received six patients. All of them have burns. Three are Chinese nationals, two are from Burma (Myanmar), and one is from Indonesia. Two are critically injured with 35-40 per cent burns. Mainly, they have airway burns, that is, respiratory burns, which are much more severe. They have breathing problems. We have to monitor closely over a few days and see how they do. Right now, we're giving all the attention and critical care," Kadam told reporters here. According to the Indian Navy, the vessel carried 22 crew members, including eight Chinese, six Taiwanese, five Myanmarese, and three Indonesian nationals. Following the explosion and escalation of the fire, the crew abandoned the ship. The MV reported an internal container explosion and a major fire onboard. The vessel was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, and its expected arrival time (ETA) was June 10.
