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Singapore Ship Burns Off India; Video Captures Heavy Fire | 18 Crew Jump For Safety, Navy In Action
The Singapore-flagged container vessel MV Wan Hai 503 caught fire on Monday, approximately 78 nautical miles off the coast of Beypore, Kerala. In response, both the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy deployed assets to assist in firefighting and rescue operations. Eighteen crew members have moved out of the vessel, and others are being rescued. According to a social media update by the Defence Public Relations Office (PRO), Kochi, the Indian Navy diverted INS Surat to the scene and scheduled a DO sortie from INS Garuda. Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard deployed a CG Dornier aircraft along with other resources for rescue operations and situation assessment. Watch.
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News18
31 minutes ago
- News18
'Undeclared Hazards, Illegal Registrations': Singapore Ship Blaze Exposes Loopholes, Ecological Risks
Last Updated: Govt reports suggest these incidents have shown that the abuse of Flags of Convenience (FoC) is not just a loophole but a deliberate strategy for profit at the expense of safety. India is facing significant ecological and social costs due to the mishandling of ships by third countries, government sources have told CNN-News18. Government sources have raised serious concerns following recent coastal accidents. The sinking of the MSC Elsa 3 in May 2025 and the MV Wan Hai 503 fire in June 2025 have highlighted significant flaws in the maritime system. The fire on the MV Wan Hai 503 poses a severe risk to Indian coasts. Government reports suggest that these incidents have shown that the abuse of Flags of Convenience (FoC) is not merely a loophole but a deliberate strategy for profit at the expense of safety. Currently, 45 per cent of global tonnage sails under FoCs, creating a conflict between sovereign accountability and negligent convenience. The MV Wan Hai 503, carrying 2,000 tonnes of fuel oil and 240 tonnes of diesel, is a significant oil spill threat. Government sources warn that a breach in the vessel could lead to a catastrophic spill, contaminating Kerala's coastline from Kozhikode to Kochi during the monsoon season. Additionally, the ship has 157 containers of hazardous materials, including pesticides (Class 6.1), lithium batteries (Class 9), and flammable liquids (Class 3), posing risks of toxic cargo leakage. These substances could leach toxins into marine ecosystems and be carried ashore by monsoon waves, threatening fish stocks and coastal habitats. Already, 40–50 containers have fallen overboard and are drifting towards Kerala's coast, sources said. Government inspections have been criticised for being perfunctory, often relying on paperwork over physical checks. For example, the MSC Elsa 3 had 21 deficiencies noted in Rotterdam but was never declared unseaworthy. Inadequate risk profiling allows ships with repeated violations, like the MSC Elsa 3 with its flag-hopping history, to evade scrutiny. Although the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transshipment Regulations (SCMTR) of 2018 mandate digital manifests for hazardous goods, the MV Wan Hai 503 carried undeclared explosives among its hazardous cargo. Local authorities in Kerala were also criticised for failing to issue timely public advisories regarding the MSC Elsa 3's calcium carbide cargo. There are serious accountability gaps in the system, with FoC abuse being very common. According to government data, 45 per cent of global shipping tonnage is registered under Panama, Liberia, and the Marshall Islands, enabling regulatory evasion through lax oversight, tax avoidance, and weak labour enforcement standards. For instance, the MSC Elsa 3, which sank with 13 undeclared hazardous containers, was registered under the Liberian flag. Similarly, the Wan Hai 503 was Singaporean-flagged but owned by Taiwanese interests, with hazardous cargo misdeclaration suspected in the explosions. FoC states often lack the resources for thorough investigations, delaying liability attribution and compensation. Liberia, for example, ignored India's probe into the MSC Elsa 3 incident. FoC states like Panama, Liberia, and the Marshall Islands outsource vessel inspections to private agencies, leading to cursory checks and certification. The MSC Elsa 3, despite its 21 deficiencies, was never declared unseaworthy. The Wan Hai 503, carrying 157 containers of hazardous materials including undeclared explosives and lithium batteries, also exemplifies this issue. These incidents reflect broader systemic problems, including the hiring of cheap, inexperienced labour to cut costs, sources point out. The Wan Hai 503's crew, lacking training in hazardous cargo management, delayed fire containment efforts, leading to the loss of four crew members during evacuation and inadequate emergency protocols. The MSC Elsa 3's underwater fuel tanks posed a significant oil spill risk affecting 200 km of coastline. FoC states often avoid funding cleanups, shifting the burden to coastal states. Following these incidents, Kerala banned fishing, severely impacting communities during peak season and causing a 40% drop in tourism revenue post-Elsa 3 due to pollution fears. Furthermore, the MSC Elsa 3 criminal case remains stalled due to Liberia's non-cooperation, while the Wan Hai 503 owners delayed sharing cargo manifests. AIS manipulation is another issue, as FoC vessels often deactivate trackers to hide their locations. Government sources report that GPS jumps increased from 600 km in 2024 to 6,300 km in 2025, raising collision risks. Shadow fleets under FoCs like Panama are known to transport illegal goods, with 29 per cent of global vessels using FoCs to facilitate arms and drug smuggling. The mishandling of ships by third countries under FoCs poses significant ecological and social risks to India, necessitating urgent systemic reforms and stricter regulatory oversight. First Published: June 12, 2025, 11:38 IST News india 'Undeclared Hazards, Illegal Registrations': Singapore Ship Blaze Exposes Loopholes, Ecological Risks
Indian Express
37 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Firefighting efforts intensify aboard Singapore vessel after explosion off Kerala coast
Indian Coast Guard and other agencies are working around the clock to contain a large fire aboard the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel MV Wan Hai 503, which caught fire earlier this week after a container exploded off Kerala coast while en route to Mumbai from Colombo. 'Around 40 per cent of the fire has now been brought under control. The vessel remains afloat but unmanned and is slowly drifting southeast in the Arabian Sea,' according to updates shared by the Director General of Shipping. In a major step forward, a team of salvage experts and Coast Guard divers managed to board the vessel. This included the Salvage Master, who is now monitoring the situation from onboard. Efforts now focus on keeping the vessel away from the coast and fully extinguishing the fire, the authorities said. The firefighting efforts, focused on the ship's forward cargo holds, are being led by Indian Coast Guard ships Samudra Prahari and Samarth. They are using foam and boundary cooling to stop the fire from spreading. 'Hydrocarbon vapours have been observed by the salvage master, indicating possible heat transfer near fuel tanks. Continuous onboard assessments are being conducted to monitor any escalation,' the DG Shipping said. At the same time, Rajdoot, Arnvesh, Abhinav, and ICGS 513 are carrying out search and rescue operations in the area. Of the 22 crew members on board the vessel, 18 were rescued while four remain missing. After an earlier attempt failed, a tow connection was successfully made between the cargo ship and the Emergency Towing Vessel Water Lily, as well as a Coast Guard asset. This was achieved through joint efforts by the Marine Emergency Response Centre (MERC) and ICG personnel. Authorities say there is still risk due to hazardous cargo and hydrocarbon vapours near the fuel tanks. However, officials from the Directorate General of Shipping say stabilisation work is ongoing, and daily meetings are being held with all involved, including the Indian Navy, maritime agencies, and the ship's owners. The Coast Guard also flew in five team members– including three salvage experts and two rescue divers –to support the operation. Extra firefighting supplies, including more foam and dry chemical powder, are being sent in to assist the crew battling the blaze, officials said. PTI
Hindustan Times
41 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
India battles container ship fire with 'hazardous' cargo
India's coast guard said it was battling to extinguish fires raging on a container ship carrying "hazardous" cargo off the southern coast to prevent a "potential ecological disaster". The 268-metre Singapore-flagged container vessel MV Wan Hai 503, carrying 22 crew members four of whom are missing caught fire about 78 nautical miles off India's Beypore port on Monday. Photographs released by the coast guard soon after the blaze broke out showed heavy containers scattered about the vessel, as if hurled up by a powerful explosion. Since then, fire has engulfed the ship. "The vessel is carrying 2,128 metric tons of fuel and hundreds of containers, including hazardous cargo, posing a serious risk to the marine environment and regional shipping routes," the coast guard said in a statement late Wednesday. It did not provide more details on the contents of the cargo, but said that "the situation remains critical". Eighteen crew members were rescued by the Indian coast guard and navy. Four crew one from Indonesia, two from Taiwan and one from Myanmar were listed as missing. The coast guard said it had "winched five salvage team members" and a diver onto the burning ship. "With the fire yet to be fully extinguished, efforts to establish a towline and pull the vessel away from the coast are underway to prevent a potential ecological disaster", it said. "Intensive firefighting efforts... have significantly reduced visible flames", it added. "However, the fire remains active in the inner decks and near fuel tanks." Seven vessels, including five coast guard vessels as well as airplanes and a helicopter, were engaged in trying to put out the fire. The MV Wan Hai 503 container ship is the second to run into trouble off India's southern coast within weeks. A Liberian-flagged container ship, also with hazardous cargo, sank off the coast of Kerala late last month. The Indian navy rescued all 24 crew members. ash/pjm/tym
