Gunpowder, Acids, Lithium Batteries: What Is The Burning Ship Off Kerala Coast Carrying
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The Coast Guard and Navy are battling to control the blaze, but if they fail, the ship may sink, potentially releasing all 154 containers carrying hazardous materials
A Singaporean cargo ship, Wan Hai 503, has caught fire while en route from Colombo to Mumbai, sparking fears of a potential environmental disaster. The blaze erupted approximately 90 km west of the Beypore and Azhikkal ports, off the Kerala coast.
As reported by PTI, the container vessel is still engulfed in flames and explosions, with fire visible in the mid-ship area and the container bay near the accommodation block, according to the Indian Coast Guard. While the fire in the forward bay has been contained, thick smoke continues to billow from the MV Wan Hai 503.
The ship is tilting about 10 to 15 degrees to port, and additional containers have fallen overboard, the Indian Coast Guard said. Two more Coast Guard ships, Sachet and Samudra Prahari, have joined the firefighting operation, conducting firefighting and boundary cooling at sea to prevent the fire from spreading.
According to the PTI report, Coast Guard vessel Samarth, with a team of salvors, is on its way from Kochi to support the ongoing efforts.
A Defence PRO earlier stated that the Indian Navy ship INS Surat had evacuated the 18-member crew from the burning container vessel on Monday morning. The crew was safely disembarked at Mangalore Port at 11:30 p.m. on Monday. On Tuesday morning, a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft conducted an aerial survey of the incident site.
The fire erupted on the ship following a container explosion. Eighteen crew members were rescued, but four remain unaccounted for. The incident occurred around 9:20 a.m. IST, approximately 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal in Kannur district of Kerala and 130 nautical miles northwest of Kochi, PTI stated.
Authorities are towing the burning vessel into deeper waters using a tug to prevent it from approaching the shore and posing further danger. However, there remains a significant risk of oil spillage and the spread of toxic chemicals if the ship sinks.
The Coast Guard and Navy are valiantly attempting to control the flames, but if unsuccessful, the ship may sink entirely, leading to the release of the 154 containers on board. Reports indicate that these containers hold hazardous substances, including acids, gunpowder and lithium batteries.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a warning that some containers from the stricken vessel could wash ashore between Kozhikode and Kochi within the next three days, necessitating caution.
This incident comes on the heels of the region dealing with the aftermath of the MSC LSA3 cargo ship sinking off the coast of Kochi, exacerbating the fears of local fishermen and residents.
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First Published:
June 10, 2025, 13:22 IST
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