China has expressed its gratitude to India for the swift and professional rescue efforts undertaken by the Indian Navy and the Mumbai Coast Guard following a major fire and explosion aboard the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel MV Wan Hai 503 off the coast of Kerala. The incident, which occurred on June 9, 2025, prompted a rapid response from Indian authorities, who deployed ships and aircraft to combat the fire and rescue the crew.
The vessel, en route from Colombo to Nhava Sheva near Mumbai, encountered an onboard explosion and subsequent fire approximately 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal, Kerala. Of the 22 crew members on board, 14 were Chinese, including 6 from Taiwan. The Chinese Embassy in India acknowledged the efforts of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. Yu Jing, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India, conveyed gratitude through a post on X, stating, "On June 9, MV Wan Hai 503 encountered onboard explosion and fire 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal, Kerala. Of the total 22 crew members on board, 14 are Chinese, including 6 from Taiwan. Our gratitude goes to the Indian Navy and the Mumbai Coast Guard for their prompt and professional rescue. We wish further search operations successful and the injured crew members a speedy recovery."
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) reported that the fire originated mid-ship and spread towards the container bay ahead of the accommodation block. In response, the ICG initiated an immediate response, deploying two Dornier aircraft equipped with life rafts for aerial surveillance and situational assessment. Several ICG ships, including specialized firefighting and pollution response vessels, were mobilized to the incident site.
ICGS Rajdoot off New Mangalore, ICGS Arnvesh off Kochi & ICGS Sachet off Agatti were diverted to the cargo vessel for assistance. The injured crew members were evacuated by INS Surat and brought to the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) Coast Guard berth at Panambur. Following this, they were taken to the AJ Hospital in Kuntikana late Monday night.
While the forward bay fire has been brought under control, challenges remain as thick smoke continues to billow from the vessel, which is listing approximately 10 to 15 degrees to port. Additionally, several containers have fallen overboard. Indian Coast Guard ships Samudra Prahari and Sachet are actively involved in firefighting operations and boundary cooling, while ICG ship Samarth has been dispatched from Kochi with a salvage team.
The swift and coordinated response by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard has been lauded for its effectiveness in rescuing 18 crew members. Search operations are ongoing for the four crew members who remain missing. The incident underscores the importance of maritime cooperation and the readiness of nations to assist in emergencies at sea, reinforcing the strong relationship between China and India in addressing such crises.
