Fire Breaks Out Mid-Sea
A container ship sailing under the Singapore flag caught fire off the Kerala coast on Monday, according to a Defence spokesperson.
A fire broke out below deck on the MV Wan Hai 503 around 10:30 am IST. At first, it was thought to be an explosion. The alert was passed from the Mumbai Maritime Operations Centre to officials in Kochi.
The ship, which is about 270 meters long and has a draft of 12.5 meters, had left Colombo on June 7 and it was on the way to Mumbai, where it was expected to arrive on June 10.
Crew & Rescue Status
There were 22 people on board at time fire broked out. So far , 18 Crew member has been rescued by teams from Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
According to reports, four people are still missing and five have been injured.
Several Coast Guard ships are sent at that location along with Indian Navy ship which include Coast Guard ships – Sachet, Arnvesh, Samudra Prahari, Abhinav, Rajdoot, and C‑144 and Indian Navy ship – INS Surat. Later a Dornier aircraft from the Coast Guard also joined the rescue efforts.
Naval and Air Teams Rush to Help
INS Surat, which was on its way to dock at Kochi, was quickly redirected around 11 am by the Western Naval Command to aid the troubled ship.
In the air, a Navy Dornier aircraft took off from INS Garuda, which is in Kochi to help with aerial tracking and guide rescue efforts from above.
What’s Happening at Sea ?
The fire started below deck, possibly involving cargo stored deep inside the ship. Though the flames have been brought under control, they haven’t been fully put out yet.
The vessel remains adrift about 70 nautical miles (~130km ) off the Kerala coast, near the stretch between Beypore and Azhikkal.
Current Status
Crew rescued-18
Crew missing-4
Crew injured-5
Navy assets -INS Surat, Dornier aircraft
Coast Guard ships-Sachet, Arnvesh, Samudra Prahari, Abhinav, Rajdoot, C-144
Operation ongoing? – Yes now the situation is undercontrol and rescued operation is going and the fire control is underway .
Key Takeaway
The Indian Navy and Coast Guard acted without delay, showing strong coordination and preparedness at sea. Their quick response played a vital role in saving lives and bringing the situation under control.
Right now, efforts are focused on finding the missing crew, fully putting out the fire, and stabilizing the ship before any plans for towing or salvage begin.
Lessons for Safer Seas: Prevention and Future Safety
Events like this serve as a reminder of how important safety at sea really is. To avoid such emergency situations in the future, cargo vessels should carry out frequent safety inspections, keep all firefighting equipment in working condition, and make sure crew members are well-prepared through regular training and emergency drills.
Keeping a close eye on the type of cargo being loaded and making sure it’s stored the right way can also go a long way in preventing fires during long trips across the ocean.
Sources –
Hindustan times
Theshillongtimes
The Hindu
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