Major Fire on Singapore-Flagged Containership Leaves Four Missing

Four individuals are currently unaccounted for following a devastating fire that broke out on the Singapore-flagged containership off the southwest coast of India.

Onboard the MV WAN HAI 503, multiple explosions and fires occurred approximately 130 nautical miles northwest of Kochi, India, causing chaos and destruction. The incident resulted in the loss of 40 containers into the Arabian Sea and forced the crew to abandon ship. Out of the 22 crew members, 18 have been successfully rescued from lifeboats, while efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining four missing individuals.

Among the rescued crew members, five sustained injuries during the ordeal, with one of them facing severe injuries. The missing crew members include two individuals from Taiwan, one from Myanmar, and one from Indonesia.

The Indian Coast Guard swiftly initiated a large-scale firefighting and rescue operation, deploying four Coast Guard ships and aircraft to combat the blaze and aid in the crew’s evacuation. Despite the ongoing efforts, the vessel remains engulfed in flames and adrift, with thick smoke billowing from the ship, heightening fears of potential secondary explosions.

In light of the environmental risks posed by the incident, authorities have commenced environmental protection measures while striving to stabilize the vessel. Notifications regarding the situation have been sent to the Singapore Flag Administration and India’s Directorate General of Shipping.

The MV WAN HAI 503 is owned and operated by a Singaporean subsidiary of the Taiwanese shipping company Wan Hai Line. However, the cause of the explosions and the specific contents of the containers have not been disclosed by officials at this time.