Burning Singaporean Vessel Off Kerala Coast Carries Acids, Gunpowder, Batteries; Raises Environmental Risks

A Singapore-flagged container ship, Wan Hai 503, has caught fire while en route from Colombo to Mumbai, prompting concerns over a potential environmental disaster.

The blaze broke out roughly 90 km off the Kerala coast, between the Beypore and Azhikkal ports.

Photo Credit: x.com/IndiaCoastGuard

According to PTI, the vessel remains ablaze, with explosions continuing onboard. The fire is concentrated midship, particularly around the container bay close to the accommodation block, the Indian Coast Guard reported.

Although the forward bay fire has been contained, dense smoke continues to pour from the MV Wan Hai 503.

The vessel is reportedly listingbetween 10 and 15 degrees to the port side, with several containers having already fallen into the sea.

The Indian Coast Guard has deployed additional ships-Sachet and Samudra Prahari-to carry out firefighting and boundary cooling operations in open waters, aimed at containing the fire's spread.

Coast Guard ship Samarth, carrying a team of salvage experts, is currently en route from Kochi to reinforce firefighting efforts.

Earlier on Monday morning, the Indian Navy's INS Surat successfully evacuated all 18 crew members aboard the burning ship. The rescued crew were safely brought to Mangalore Port by 11:30 p.m. that evening. On Tuesday morning, a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft conducted an aerial reconnaissance of the site.

The fire was reportedly triggered by an explosion in one of the containers.

While 18 crew members were rescued, four individuals remain missing. The incident occurred at approximately 9:20 a.m. IST, around 44 nautical miles from Azhikkal in Kerala's Kannur district and 130 nautical miles northwest of Kochi, PTI added.

To prevent the ship from drifting towards the coast and posing additional hazards, authorities are towing it into deeper waters using a tug. However, there remains a serious threat of oil leakage and the release of hazardous chemicals if the vessel sinks.

Efforts by the Coast Guard and Navy to contain the blaze are ongoing, but if they fail, the ship could sink, potentially releasing its 154 cargo containers into the sea. Reports suggest these containers include dangerous materials such as acids, gunpowder, and lithium batteries.

The US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a warning that some containers from the distressed vessel could wash ashore along the coast between Kozhikode and Kochi within the next three days, urging the public to exercise caution.

This incident follows closely on the heels of the recent sinking of the MSC LSA3 cargo vessel off the coast of Kochi, deepening anxieties among local fishing communities and coastal residents.