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In a major maritime rescue operation, the Indian Coast Guard has rescued 18 out of 22 crew members after the Singapore-flagged container ship MV Wan Hai 503 caught fire in the Arabian Sea on Monday, June 9. The fire, which was accompanied by explosions, remains active as firefighting efforts continue.
The vessel was carrying approximately 650 containers, some of which contained hazardous materials. The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy are jointly leading the firefighting and search operation, with aerial support from helicopters and Dornier aircraft. A team from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore is en route to assist Indian authorities.
The Indian Coast Guard ships Samudra Prahari and Sachet are currently engaged in firefighting operations and boundary cooling, while Samarth, along with salvage teams from Kochi, has also been deployed to assist in the efforts.
The incident occurred about 78 nautical miles off the coast of Beypore, Kerala. The rescued crew members have been transported to AJ Hospital and Research Centre in Mangalore, Karnataka. Of the 18 rescued, two have sustained serious burn injuries, while four others suffered minor burns.
Four crew members remain missing. According to a press release from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the missing crew includes two individuals from Taiwan, one from Myanmar, and one from Indonesia. Search and rescue operations are actively underway.
“As of 8 pm on June 9, 2025 (Singapore Time), a total of three vessels from the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy have been deployed for the search and rescue operations. Aircraft have also been mobilised to support the mission,” the press release stated.
The vessel had departed Colombo on June 7 and was en route to Mumbai, where it was expected to arrive on June 10.