A major maritime emergency unfolded off the Kerala coast on Monday, June 9, 2025, as a Singapore-flagged container ship, MV Wan Hai 503, caught fire following an explosion. The incident occurred approximately 70 nautical miles west of Beypore and 315 km off Kochi, while the vessel was en route from Colombo to Nhava Sheva (Mumbai).

The Maritime Operations Centre in Mumbai alerted its counterpart in Kochi around 10:30 am about the underdeck fire. The 270-meter-long vessel was carrying over 650 containers, including some with hazardous materials. The fire, triggered by an explosion in one of the containers, quickly spread, leading to a large-scale rescue operation. Initial reports suggest the explosion occurred on the underdeck of the ship.

Of the 22 crew members on board, 18 were successfully rescued by the swift and coordinated efforts of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. The crew members, reportedly from various countries, had abandoned the vessel using emergency rafts and by jumping into the sea. However, one crew member sustained critical injuries and is receiving medical attention. Four crew members – two Taiwanese nationals, one Myanmar national, and one Indonesian national – who were reportedly involved in initial firefighting efforts, are still missing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate them.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) promptly responded to the distress call, diverting multiple ships, including ICGS Rajdoot from off New Mangalore, ICGS Arnvesh from off Kochi, and ICGS Sachet from off Agatti, to the location. A Dornier surveillance aircraft was also deployed to provide real-time updates, assess the situation, and drop emergency supplies. The Navy also rerouted INS Surat, which was scheduled to dock in Kochi, to provide immediate assistance. The ICG's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai also requested a nearby merchant vessel, MV One Marvel, to assist in the rescue operation.

The fire led to the explosion of some containers, with approximately 20 containers falling overboard, further complicating the situation. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. District Collectors in Kozhikode and Ernakulam have been asked to assess medical facilities, and ambulances were kept ready at the Beypore harbor for emergency support.

The Singapore High Commissioner, Simon Wong, expressed his gratitude to the Indian Navy and Coast Guard for their timely and professional response.

This incident marks the second maritime emergency off the Kerala coast in recent weeks. On May 25, 2025, the Liberian-flagged MSC Elsa-3 sank approximately 14 nautical miles off the Kochi coast, releasing hundreds of containers, including 13 with hazardous materials, into the sea. The Kerala government declared it a state-specific disaster to mobilize rescue and cleaning campaigns.