Indian authorities have launched a criminal case against the owner, master, and crew of the Singapore-flagged container vessel Wan Hai 503 following a major fire and explosion incident that tragically resulted in the death of four crew members.

The incident occurred on June 9 at 12:30 AM local time when the vessel experienced a large explosion while en route from Colombo to Mumbai, approximately 78 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. Of the 22 crew members aboard, 18 were rescued from lifeboats, while four remain missing – including two Taiwanese nationals, one from Myanmar, and one from Indonesia.

The Fort Kochi Coastal Police have filed charges under India’s Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) criminal code for multiple offenses, including reckless navigation, acts endangering public ways or navigation, negligent conduct regarding poisonous substances, and negligent handling of explosive substances, as reported by local media.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the accused were aware of the hazardous materials onboard the vessel, including flammable materials, explosives, and hazardous chemicals. The incident resulted in fuel and oil leaking into the sea, with several containers falling overboard. Harmful gases and chemicals released from the burning containers posed serious risks to fishermen and marine ecosystems.

The Indian Coast Guard has made progress in salvage operations, with the vessel now located 35 nautical miles off the coast and under tow by the tug Offshore Warrior. The vessel will be held at least 50 nautical miles from the coast pending further decisions.

This incident follows a similar case involving the MSC Elsa 3, which sank off Kochi on May 25, resulting in similar charges being filed against the crew. All 24 crew members were rescued in that incident, which involved hazardous cargo containers containing Calcium Carbide.

A spokesperson from the Fort Kochi Coastal Police confirmed that the charges in the Wan Hai 503 case mirror those filed in the MSC Elsa 3 incident.