Adverse weather hampers firefighting on MV Wan Hai 503
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Follow TNM’s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
THE fire-hit container vessel MV Wan Hai 503 continued to burn as firefighting and towing operations continued for the third consecutive day, approximately 53 nautical miles west of Kochi. Earlier, the vessel was around 17 nautical miles away from the shore.
Officials say that extreme weather conditions have made the entire operation, including salvage, firefighting, and towing, highly challenging and difficult to execute.
The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), in a statement issued Saturday, June 14, said the situation remains “challenging but manageable at this stage,” with multiple agencies maintaining coordinated efforts amid difficult weather conditions.
The ship is currently being towed by the tug (a vessel used to push or pull other ships, either by direct contact or using a tow line), Offshore Warrior, at a speed of only 1.5 knots due to bad weather conditions.
MV Wan Hai 503, a Singapore-flagged container vessel, was en route from Kandla Port when it caught fire in the Arabian Sea on June 9. The blaze, reportedly triggered by an explosion on board, quickly spread across multiple containers. The vessel was carrying around 650 containers, including some classified as hazardous, complicating firefighting and salvage operations.
“The fire continues to persist in the midship section,” DGS said. “Boundary cooling is being actively maintained… to prevent further escalation.” Though major flare-ups have been contained, chemical fumes continue to rise from the cargo, which includes hazardous materials.
Authorities are attempting to move the vessel gradually westward and out of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to reduce the risk to the coastline. However, forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) have warned of extremely heavy rainfall, strong westerlies, and rough seas over the Kerala region in the coming days. This could hamper further salvage and firefighting operations.
Public warned not to approach containers
Although the current towing has stabilised the vessel's position, the DGS cautioned that the vessel continues to carry residual hazardous cargo alongside heavy fuel oil and diesel onboard, “presenting significant environmental and safety risks in case of structural failure or uncontrolled drift.”
Drone surveys have been launched to monitor shoreline pollution and the drift of containers.
Both DGS and the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) issued a public safety alert on Saturday, warning that containers that fell from the burning vessel may wash up along the southern coast of Ernakulam and the shores of Alappuzha and Kollam districts between June 16 and June 18.
“Information received from the Coast Guard and the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) indicates that containers that fell overboard from MV Wan Hai 503 could wash ashore in the coming days,” the KSDMA said.
It warned the public not to approach or touch any items that may have come from the ship. “If you spot any such object along the shore, do not touch it. Maintain a distance of at least 200 metres and immediately call the emergency helpline 112 to report the location,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, other tugs like Garnet, Triton Liberty, and ETV Water Lily have joined the firefighting efforts. Reinforcement vessels Saroja Blessing and Boka Winger are expected to arrive on Sunday to assist with towing and firefighting.
A second towline was considered to strengthen the towing operation, but “due to rough weather conditions, the operation is not being prioritised,” the Directorate stated. An Indian Navy vessel (P 55) and salvors attempted to winch down onto the vessel to attach a second towline on Saturday, but the attempt was not successful, and the same will be made on 15 June.
Despite harsh weather conditions, Offshore Warrior was refuelled at sea. “Offshore Warrior was able to establish connections for at-sea bunkering with great difficulty due to prevailing weather conditions,” the DGS said.
Meanwhile, the Directorate noted that boarding operations were being planned with extreme caution due to the sea state. Certified firefighting teams are awaiting visa clearance for deployment, and additional firefighting equipment is being flown in from Singapore.
