01. Incident Overview
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) announced that the Singapore-registered container vessel Wan Hai 503 (IMO: 9294862) caught fire at approximately 10:30 AM on June 9, around 80 km southwest of Azhikkal, Kerala, India. Operated by Wan Hai Lines (Singapore) Pte Ltd, the vessel was transporting 650 containers at the time of the incident.
Crew Status:
- 22 crew members were onboard; 18 have been evacuated to passing vessels or Beypore Port, with some reported injuries.
- 4 crew members remain missing, and search and rescue operations are underway by the Indian Coast Guard and Navy.
The ship is currently adrift at sea with ongoing fires.
02. Vessel & Voyage Details
Vessel Specifications (via Baltic Shipping data):
- Built in 2005 with a 4,252 TEU capacity.
- Former names: INDIA (2012), INDIA DES0 (2013), INDIA EXPRESS (2013), and Wan Hai 503 (since 2019).
- Gross tonnage: 42,532 tons; deadweight: 51,300 tons; length: 268m.
Voyage Route:
- Departed Colombo, Sri Lanka on June 7, bound for Nhava Sheva Port (JNPA), India (scheduled arrival: June 10).
- Historical calls included major Chinese ports: Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, and Shekou, as well as Port Klang (Malaysia) and Singapore.
03. Current Situation
- Photographs from the scene show containers engulfed in thick smoke, with adjacent units tilting slightly. No reports have been released on containers falling overboard or specific cargo damage.
- The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and it is unclear whether hazardous goods were involved.
Note: This incident highlights the critical role of maritime safety protocols. For logistics updates or cargo inquiries, please contact your service provider promptly.
