A multi-agency operation is underway in the Arabian Sea to control a massive fire aboard the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel MV Wan Hai 503, which caught fire earlier this week following a container explosion off the Kerala coast. The vessel was en route from Colombo to Mumbai.
Roughly 40 per cent of the blaze has been brought under control, but the ship remains unmanned and is slowly drifting southeast, raising serious ecological concerns. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), along with salvage teams and maritime authorities, is working around the clock to avert disaster.
A key breakthrough came on Wednesday when salvage experts and Coast Guard divers managed to board the vessel. The Salvage Master is now overseeing operations onboard, monitoring heat buildup near the fuel tanks. Hydrocarbon vapours in the area suggest a continued risk of fire escalation, reported the Press Trust of India news agency.
ICG vessels Samudra Prahari and Samarth are leading firefighting efforts, targeting the forward cargo holds using foam and boundary cooling techniques. Meanwhile, search and rescue operations continue, with 18 of the 22 crew members rescued. Four remain unaccounted for.
The vessel is carrying over 2,100 metric tons of fuel and hazardous cargo, prompting fears of a potential explosion or environmental damage. Officials say stabilisation work is ongoing and the situation remains critical but contained.
