A critical maritime emergency continues to unfold off the coast of Kerala as the Singapore-flagged container vessel MV Wan Hai 503 remains engulfed in a raging inferno, days after a major explosion ripped through the ship. Compounding the already dire situation, authorities have now confirmed the presence of explosives among the vessel’s hazardous cargo, raising significant concerns for both rescue efforts and potential environmental fallout along the sensitive Kerala coastline.
The blaze, which originated from an initial explosion within one of the containers, has spread relentlessly across the vessel, with thick, toxic plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. While Indian Coast Guard vessels like the Samudra Prahari and Sachet have been tirelessly pumping water onto the burning ship, the sheer intensity of the fire and the confirmed hazardous nature of the cargo have made containment efforts exceptionally challenging.
Sources within the Directorate General of Shipping have revealed that out of 157 containers carrying hazardous cargo, several are believed to contain explosives, which may have triggered the initial blast. This revelation has escalated the threat assessment, particularly as the vessel, currently unmanned and adrift, continues to emit smoke and flames from multiple bays. The cargo manifest reportedly includes highly flammable substances like Nitrocellulose with Alcohol (32.2 tonnes), along with other dangerous goods such as flammable liquids and solids, substances liable to spontaneous combustion, and toxic and corrosive materials.
The immediate priority remains containing the fire and preventing further explosions, especially given the substantial fuel reserves (approximately 2000 tonnes of fuel oil and 240 tonnes of diesel oil) located in tanks adjacent to the fire zone. Experts are evaluating options for connecting a towline to prevent the vessel from drifting closer to the Indian coast, a task made extremely difficult by the raging fire. Consultations are underway with the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard to determine the safest course of action.
Missing Crew and Environmental Concerns
Out of the 22 crew members on board, 18 have been successfully rescued by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, with some receiving medical attention for injuries. However, the fate of four crew members remains unknown, and search and rescue operations are ongoing.
The ecological implications of this incident are particularly alarming for Kerala. Approximately 40 containers have reportedly fallen off the vessel, and a few others were broken in the impact of the initial blast. These drifting containers, whose full contents are yet to be definitively identified, pose a significant risk of reaching the Kerala coast between Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram, potentially by tomorrow. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has already begun collecting seawater samples to test for chemical presence, as the vessel is known to carry substances with chronic marine toxicity and potential carcinogenic properties. Given that this is currently the fish breeding season, any leakage of these hazardous materials could have a devastating long-term impact on marine life and the livelihoods of fishing communities.
This incident marks the second major maritime accident off the Kerala coast in recent weeks, following the sinking of a Liberian-flagged vessel carrying oil and hazardous cargo last month. The repeated occurrences highlight the urgent need for stricter enforcement of maritime safety protocols and robust emergency response mechanisms in the region.
An investigation appointed by the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore is expected to arrive in Kochi today to further probe the incident. Meanwhile, authorities are exploring the possibility of engaging expert firefighting personnel from the UK or the Netherlands to assist in finally dousing the flames and bringing the MV Wan Hai 503 under control. The eyes of the nation, and indeed the international maritime community, remain fixed on the unfolding crisis off the Kerala coast.