In a swift and coordinated maritime rescue effort, the Indian Navy, along with the Indian Coast Guard, Directorate General of Shipping, and other agencies, successfully rescued 18 crew members from the Singapore-flagged container vessel MV Wan Hai 503 after a major fire broke out on board following an internal explosion.
The vessel, which was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, caught fire approximately 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal, Kerala and about 130 nautical miles northwest of Kochi. The incident was reported around 9:30 am at the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), prompting the immediate deployment of Indian Navy warship INS Surat and a Dornier surveillance aircraft to the scene.
More visuals of the fire onboard Singapore-flagged container vessel MV Wan Hai 503. The incident occurred at approximately 9.20 hrs IST on 9th June 25, around 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal, Kerala. The vessel was enroute from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Nhava Sheva, Mumbai pic.twitter.com/dyeTKPaqeS
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 9, 2025
By 4:30 pm, INS Surat had successfully rescued 18 out of the 22 crew members. The rescued personnel—hailing from China, Taiwan, Myanmar, and Indonesia—were provided immediate first aid on board. The vessel is now being escorted to New Mangalore for disembarkation and further medical care for the injured.
Four crew members remain unaccounted for, and an intensified search and rescue operation is underway. Indian Coast Guard aircraft and five ships, including specialized firefighting and pollution response vessels, have been deployed to the site. Two Dornier aircraft were also seen conducting aerial assessments and dropping life rafts in the vicinity.
Preliminary investigations indicate that 10 to 15 containers have fallen overboard, and the fire has severely damaged the vessel’s midsection. The MV Wan Hai 503 continues to emit thick smoke, posing risks of further explosions and structural collapse. Nearby maritime traffic has been warned to stay clear of the area.
The Directorate General of Shipping has instructed the vessel’s owners to engage professional salvors and firefighting teams immediately. Singapore’s Flag Administration has also been formally notified.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Mumbai activated the International Safety Net (ISN) following the distress signal relayed by MV Cape Valencia. Two nearby merchant vessels, MV AMBRA and MV ONE MARVEL, were diverted to assist in the ongoing rescue operation.
