New Delhi, June 12: China on Wednesday expressed gratitude to India for rescuing 18 crew members, including 14 Chinese nationals, from a Singapore-flagged container ship that caught fire off the coast of Kerala earlier this week.
The MV Wan Hai 503, en route from Colombo to the Indian port of Nhava Sheva near Mumbai, caught fire on June 9 following an explosion in one of its containers. The vessel was sailing roughly 70 nautical miles off Kozhikode when the incident occurred.
“Of the 22 crew members onboard, 14 are Chinese, including six from Taiwan. Our gratitude goes to the Indian Navy and the Mumbai Coast Guard for their prompt and professional rescue,” Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing posted on social media platform X.
Authorities confirmed that four crew members remain missing while five others were injured in the incident. The ship, which remains adrift in the Arabian Sea, continues to emit heavy smoke as firefighting efforts continue.
According to a status report from Indian maritime agencies, roughly 40% of the fire—primarily located in the ship’s forward bays—has been contained. No structural damage has been reported so far, but thermal and gas hazards persist near affected compartments.
The Wan Hai 503 is currently located about 65 nautical miles off the Indian coastline and is drifting southeast at a speed of approximately one knot per hour. The ship is carrying around 2,000 tonnes of fuel oil and 240 tonnes of diesel in tanks close to the fire zone, posing a continued risk of escalation, authorities warned.
The vessel is loaded with 1,754 containers, including 143 classified as hazardous cargo. As the fire suppression continues, the Indian Coast Guard and salvage teams are preparing to attempt towline connections to either the stern or bow once conditions permit.
India’s National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has activated its Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT) to track potential drift of containers, debris, or crew overboard. INCOIS also warned of a possible oil spill, with simulations indicating that any slick may drift parallel to the coastline through June 13.
International firefighting specialists from Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands are expected to join the response pending visa clearances within the next 72 hours, the Directorate General of Shipping said.
Local authorities have been asked to step up coastal surveillance, and warnings have been issued to nearby shipping lanes about the drifting vessel and containers. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
