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Crew Missing and Injured as Fire Spreads on Wan Hai Ship Off India

containership fire
Fire bruning aboard Wan Hai 503 (Indian Coast Guard photos)

Published Jun 9, 2025 9:40 AM by The Maritime Executive


The Indian Coast Guard and Navy are responding to an unfolding situation as a fire is burning on a Wan Hai containership off the west coast of India. Initial reports are that four crewmembers are listed as missing while 18 were rescued from a lifeboat and life raft, some with serious injuries, and were expected to be evacuated to India. In updated reports from the Indian Coast Guard the fire is continuing to spread on the abandoned vessel.

The authorities received a report at approximately 1230 local time on June 9 of a fire in one container that was spreading to others aboard the Singapore-flagged containership Wan Hai 503 (51,300 dwt). Images appear to show containers askew and burning on the forward part of the ship with reports in the media that at least 40 to 50 containers went overboard. At least one container is upside down and the door is open on another container. Later photos show the more containers consumed in the fire.

Media reports are saying there were multiple explosions aboard the vessel. The ship is reported to be transporting various hazardous materials, including flammable liquids and solids, spontaneous combustible substances, and toxic substances.

In a later update, the Indian Coast Guard said the situation remains critical and that all efforts are being made to stabilize the vessel. They are reporting that dense smoke is continuing to billow from the ship as the fire appears to have spread, raising fears of secondary explosions.

 

First photo of the fire onboard (Indian Coast Guard)

 

Later photos show the spread of the fire (Indian Coast Guard)

 

A call went out for assistance from passing vessels and the ONE Marvel containership diverted along with the MSC Ambra. The surviving 18 crewmembers have been transferred from lifeboats to an Indian Navy ship and are now en route to New Mangalore Port. The Indian media is reporting two are seriously injured and three others have less serious injuries. A search was ongoing for the missing crewmembers, which are reported to include two from Taiwan, one from Indonesia, and one from Myanmar.

The Indian Navy sent one vessel to assist. The Coast Guard also dispatched five ships and aircraft have also been sent to survey the scene.

 

 

 

 

The Wan Hai 503 is reported to be approximately 78 nautical miles southwest of the Kerala region of India. The vessel had departed Colombo on June 7 and was heading to Mumbai where it was due on June 10. The vessel was built in 2005 and has a capacity of 4,252 TEU. It is 882 feet (229 meters) in length. It underwent its last Port State inspection at the beginning of June in Mumbai and minor issues were cited with loading and unloading equipment and a workspace safety warning was issued, but there was no detention.

The situation continues to unfold with Wan Hai reportedly having retained firefighting and salvage tugs to head to the ship. 

 

 

Fire looks far more involved by the time the Indian Coast Guard vessels reached the ship (Indian Coast Guard)