Latest news with #SimonWong
Scroll.in
14 hours ago
- General
- Scroll.in
Cargo ship catches fire off Kerala coast, 4 missing
A Singapore-flagged container ship on its way to Navi Mumbai caught fire off the coast of Kerala on Monday, the Indian Coast Guard said. While four of the ship's 22 crew members were missing, the remaining had been rescued, it added. A search operation was underway to rescue the missing persons. The 18 members of the crew had reportedly jumped into the sea and used emergency rafts to escape the fire that broke out in the middle portion of the ship MV Wan Hai 503, The Hindu quoted officials of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority as saying. The rescued crew was taken to Mangaluru in Karnataka for treatment, OnManorama reported. The incident cook place when the vessel was off the coast of Beypore port, the news outlet reported. The Indian Coast Guard said that the ship was 130 nautical miles north-west of Kochi. There were reportedly more than 650 containers, including 150 containing hazardous materials, in the cargo vessel, The Hindu reported. Twenty containers had fallen into the sea after several explosions and fire on board. A container explosion had triggered the fire, OnManorama reported. The ship remained adrift and continued to emit smoke as of Monday night. Five coast guard ships and an aircraft were dispatched to rescue the crew and for surveillance, The Hindu quoted officials from the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre in Kochi as saying. The vessel had departed Colombo, Sri Lanka on Saturday and was expected to reach Mumbai on Tuesday. Singaporean High Commissioner Simon Wong said on social media: 'Professional and rapid response of the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy. Praying that remaining crew are found soon.' While two of the four missing persons are Taiwanese citizens, one is from Indonesia and another from Myanmar. The ship's owners have been requested to assess and report the nature of the cargo in the affected hold to ascertain the presence of hazardous material. No information has been yet received on whether dangerous goods were involved in the explosion, The Indian Express reported. This came two weeks after a Liberian-flagged container vessel carrying 'hazardous cargo' sank off the coast of Kochi on May 25 after it began gradually tilting a day earlier. All 24 crew members on board the vessel were rescued. On May 29, the Kerala government declared the wreckage of the container ship a state-specific disaster. It was carrying 13 containers with hazardous cargo and 12 of calcium carbide.
News18
a day ago
- General
- News18
Singapore Thanks India For Rescue Ops After Cargo Ship Fire: 'Grateful To Indian Friends'
Last Updated: The vessel had a multinational crew onboard, including 8 Chinese, 6 Taiwanese, 5 from Myanmar, and 3 Indonesian nationals. Singapore's High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, extended gratitude to India after the successful rescue of 18 crew members from the Singapore-flagged container ship MV Wan Hai 503, which caught fire off the Indian coast on June 9. Taking to X, he wrote, 'Deep gratitude for our Indian friends @IndiaCoastGuard @indiannavy @IN_HQSNC @IN_WNC @SpokespersonMoD. Swift and brave rescue operations for the 🇸🇬-flagged MV Wan Hai 503 which caught fire off #Beypore. HC Wong". Deep gratitude 🙏 for our Indian friends @IndiaCoastGuard @indiannavy @IN_HQSNC @IN_WNC @SpokespersonMoD swift and brave rescue operations for the 🇸🇬-flagged MV Wan Hai 503 which caught fire off #Beypore. HC Wong #IndianNavy #IndianCoastGuard 📷: @DefencePROkochi — Singapore in India (@SGinIndia) June 9, 2025 Meanwhile, the Indian Navy confirmed that 18 out of 22 crew members aboard the Singapore-flagged container ship have been safely evacuated. The incident took place approximately 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal and 130 nautical miles northwest of Kochi, Kerala. According to the Navy, the vessel had a multinational crew onboard, including 8 Chinese, 6 Taiwanese, 5 from Myanmar, and 3 Indonesian nationals. As the fire intensified, all crew members were forced to abandon the ship. Two Indian Coast Guard ships, Sachet and Samudra Prahari, are actively deployed at the scene of the fire to assist in firefighting and rescue operations. '#IndianNavy in a closely coordinated #SearchAndRescue operation with @IndiaCoastGuard, DG Shipping and other stakeholders, has safely rescued 18 out of 22 crew members Singaporean Flagged MV Wan Hai 503. The MV had reported internal container explosion and resultant major fire onboard. The inputs of the incident were received at @IFC_IOR at about 0930 hr on #09Jun 25," said Indian Navy spokesperson in an official statement. '#INSSurat and a Dornier aircraft were immediately deployed by the #IndianNavy to render necessary assistance, and at about 1630 hr, 18 out of 22 crew members were safely rescued by #Surat. First aid has been rendered to the injured crew members and the ship is presently proceeding to New Mangalore for disembarkation and further medical management," it added. #IndianNavy in a closely coordinated #SearchAndRescue operation with @IndiaCoastGuard, DG Shipping and other stakeholders, has safely rescued 18 out of 22 crew members Singaporean Flagged MV Wan Hai 503. The MV had reported internal container explosion and resultant major fire… — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) June 9, 2025 Notably, the vessel was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, with an expected time of arrival (ETA) on 10 June. The fire rapidly engulfed the midsection of the vessel, which is currently adrift.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong calls on C.M. Stalin
Simon Wong, High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore to India along with a team met Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the Secretariat on Wednesday. In a post on X, Mr. Wong thanked Mr. Stalin for taking the time to meet the team. In the past four years, Singapore companies have pledged USD $8 billion of investments in Tamil Nadu, which is a testimony of the State's efficiency and ease of doing business, he said.
Daily Express
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Express
Sandakan MP praises Sandakan District Tennis Association efforts
Published on: Monday, April 28, 2025 Published on: Mon, Apr 28, 2025 By: GL Oh Text Size: Silvester (second right) presents a memento to Tang. SANDAKAN: Sandakan District Tennis Association (SDTA) has received praise from Sandakan's Member of Parliament Vivian Wong. In her speech delivered by her representative Tang Shu Ching at the launch of the association's annual junior coaching clinic at the club house on Saturday, she appreciated their efforts in organising the programme that benefit the local residents especially school children, and she will continue to give her full support. SDTA's president Silvester Lawai, who expressed his gratitude to Wong for the constant support, said the programme would be held every Saturday and Sunday from 4pm to 6pm for the next 30 weeks. 'This year's programme will be a bit special because parents would also have the opportunity to practice while waiting for their children, 'he said. He also thanked development sub-committee chairman Adrian Tan and coaches Rohjan Md Daud, Iruwan Amboragang, Simon Wong, Johannes Belili and Stevie Alfie for their hard work to ensure the success of the launch as well as to all the sponsors for the support. Also present were Sabah Tennis Association's president Johnson Koh, Sandakan district education officer Ahmad Yusof and Salianah Sabrah from the Sandakan Ministry of Youth and Sports. Koh also revealed that the junior programme in Sandakan was the first to be launched in the State in 1981 by him, Simon Wong and Benno Ong who were then the top players in the State. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
RTHK
21-04-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Bars business pick up over Easter, but not eateries
Bars business pick up over Easter, but not eateries Allan Zeman said business for Lan Kwai Fong establishments was up by 15 percent over the Easter break. File photo: RTHK The restaurant and bar trade has expressed mixed sentiment over trade this Easter, after 1.6 million or so SAR residents left the city in the first three days of the holiday, figures from the Immigration Department revealed. Allan Zeman, who chairs the Lan Kwai Fong Group, told RTHK that he was pleasantly surprised to learn that bar receipts picked up over the holiday. "I would say that it was up about 15 percent, in some cases 20 percent, depending on some of the different bars," he said. "I was very pleasantly surprised. Because I was definitely expecting a 20 to 30 percent drop." He also noted a change in the tenant mix, saying more eateries are now serving Chinese cuisine to cater to the growing number of mainland customers. But the Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades painted a grim picture, saying business citywide fell by around 30 percent. President Simon Wong said the large number of people leaving the SAR definitely had an impact. "Most restaurant business being hurt are those middle- and high-class restaurants because a lot of people who are willing to pay for their meals, they would rather spend their time outside of Hong Kong, especially to some Southeast Asian countries and also to the mainland." James Robertson, who owns half a dozen bars and restaurants across the city, revealed that business was down 25 percent compared to a year ago. "No business can survive a 25 percent drop in sales. That just isn't possible," he said. "Generally speaking, the landlords are not that sympathetic because they've got their own issues about valuation and property valuations and rentals that they need. "But we can't survive. You can't have landlords demanding the same rent in a market that's down 25 to 30 percent. It doesn't deserve that kind of rent." There is still hope on the horizon, Wong said, pointing to the Labour Day "golden week" holiday which starts next week. He expects a 15 percent boost in business across the catering sector as mainland tourists visit the SAR during the five days of public holiday, including those from Shenzhen who can apply for multi-entry visas.
