‘Prompt & professional': China thanks India for swift rescue of fire-hit cargo ship off Kerala coast, wishes success for further operations
China thanks India for swift rescue of fire-hit cargo ship off Kerala coast (Picture credit: PTI)
NEW DELHI: China has expressed gratitude to Indian authorities for their prompt and professional response after a massive fire broke out on board the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel MV Wan Hai 503 off the Kerala coast, which was carrying 14 Chinese crew members.
The incident, which occurred on June 9, has left four crew members missing and five injured, while 18 others have been rescued.
'Of the total 22 crew members on board, 14 are Chinese, including 6 from Taiwan,' Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing posted on X, thanking the Indian Navy and Mumbai Coast Guard for their rescue efforts. 'We wish further search operations successful and the injured crew members a speedy recovery,' the statement added.
Thanking India for its rescue efforts, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing posted on X, "On June 9, MV Wan Hai 503 encountered onboard explosion and fire 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal, Kerala. Of the total 22 crew members on board, 14 are Chinese, including 6 from Taiwan. Our gratitude goes to the Indian Navy @indiannavy and the Mumbai Coast Guard for their prompt and professional rescue. We wish further search operations successful and the injured crew members speedy recovery.
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The explosion occurred while the vessel was en route from Colombo to Nhava Sheva near Mumbai. According to the Indian Coast Guard, the fire started mid-ship and spread towards the container bay ahead of the accommodation block.
Though the forward bay fire has been contained, thick smoke continues to billow and the ship is now listing 10–15 degrees to port. Several containers have also gone overboard.
In response, Indian Coast Guard ships Samudra Prahari, Sachet, and Rajdoot were quickly deployed for firefighting and boundary cooling operations.
ICGS Samarth has been sent from Kochi with a salvage team, and aerial surveys are being conducted to monitor the situation.
An Indian Coast Guard Dornier aircraft also dropped air-droppables near the vessel to aid firefighting. 'Quick response by India Coast Guard after explosion on Singapore-flagged MV WAN HAI 503, 130 NM NW of Kerala coast,' the Coast Guard posted on X.
The ship, which is now drifting, had been carrying containerised cargo when an explosion below deck triggered the fire.
The vessel is currently 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal in Kannur and about 130 nautical miles northwest of Kochi.
Amid the ongoing rescue, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued advisories warning of potential oil spill and drifting containers. Simulations show a 70–80% probability that debris and floating cargo may drift southeast from the site over the next three days.
'However, caution is advised about a few containers beaching between Kozhikode and Kochi,' INCOIS said in a statement, adding that its oil spill model predicts a parallel coastal drift until June 13.
Local authorities have been urged to step up shoreline surveillance to address potential environmental and navigational hazards.
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