Fire Breaks Out on Wan Hai Containership off the Coast of India
The Indian Coast Guard and Navy are currently responding to a critical situation as a fire engulfs the Wan Hai containership off the west coast of India. Reports indicate that four crewmembers are missing, while 18 have been rescued, some with severe injuries. The rescued crewmembers are expected to be evacuated to India for further medical assistance.
The distress call was received around 12:30 local time on June 9, reporting a fire in one container that quickly spread to others on the Singapore-flagged containership, Wan Hai 503. Images from the scene show containers on fire and askew, with reports suggesting that approximately 40 containers fell overboard. The vessel is also reported to be carrying hazardous materials, including flammable liquids and toxic substances.
Responding vessels, including the ONE Marvel and MSC Ambra, diverted to rescue the crewmembers. The ONE Marvel successfully rescued 18 individuals, with reports of two crewmembers sustaining serious injuries and three with minor injuries. The search for the missing crewmembers, hailing from Taiwan, Indonesia, and Myanmar, is ongoing.
The Indian Navy has dispatched a vessel to the scene, while the Coast Guard has mobilized five ships and deployed aircraft for surveillance. The Wan Hai 503 is located approximately 78 nautical miles southwest of the Kerala region in India. The vessel had departed Colombo on June 7 en route to Mumbai, where it was scheduled to arrive on June 10.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Wan Hai has arranged for firefighting and salvage tugs to assist in containing the fire and salvaging the vessel. The ship, with a capacity of 4,252 TEU and a length of 882 feet, underwent a recent Port State inspection in Mumbai, citing minor issues with loading equipment and workspace safety.
The situation is rapidly evolving, with authorities and maritime organizations working tirelessly to ensure the safety of the crew and mitigate the impact of the incident. Our thoughts are with the missing crewmembers and those injured in this unfortunate event.