Indian coast guard battles massive fire on container ship listing off Kerala

Key Points

• It seems likely that a container ship, MV Wan Hai 503, caught fire on June 9, 2025, off Kerala, India, carrying hazardous materials.
• Research suggests salvage efforts are ongoing to prevent ecological fallout, with over 40% of the fire contained as of June 12, 2025.
• There is controversy around the environmental risks, given the ship’s fuel and hazardous cargo, with four crew members still missing.

Incident Overview
A container ship, the MV Wan Hai 503, caught fire on June 9, 2025, about 15 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala, India. The Singapore-flagged vessel was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Mumbai, India, carrying 2,128 tonnes of fuel and hundreds of containers, including hazardous materials.

Response Efforts
The Indian Coast Guard and Navy are actively involved in rescue and salvage operations. As of June 12, 2025, over 40% of the fire has been contained, but it remains active in certain areas. Efforts to tow the ship away from the coast are ongoing, with challenges due to unfavorable sea conditions. International support from firefighting specialists from Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands is expected soon.

Ecological Concerns
The ship’s cargo poses a significant risk of ecological disaster if it sinks or spills, with some containers already drifting and posing navigational threats. Previous incidents, like the sinking of MSC ELSA 3 on May 24, 2025, off Kerala, have heightened concerns.

Crew Status
Of the 22 crew members, 18 have been rescued (2 in hospital, 16 in a hotel in New Mangalore), and 4 are still missing, with search operations continuing.

Detailed Analysis of Maritime Fire Off Kerala, India

On June 12, 2025, at 08:21 AM PDT, reports confirm a significant maritime fire involving the container ship MV Wan Hai 503 off the coast of Kerala, India, starting on June 9, 2025. This incident, involving a vessel carrying hazardous materials, has prompted extensive salvage efforts to prevent ecological fallout. This report provides a comprehensive overview, drawing from multiple reputable news sources to ensure accuracy and depth.

Incident Overview

The fire began on Monday, June 9, 2025, when the Singapore-flagged container ship MV Wan Hai 503, managed by Wan Hai Lines (Singapore) Pte Ltd, caught fire approximately 15 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala, in the Arabian Sea. The vessel, measuring 269 meters (890 feet) in length, was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka, where it departed on June 7, 2025, to Mumbai, India, as detailed in CNN: Indian coast guard battles massive fire on container ship listing off Kerala. The ship was carrying 2,128 tonnes of fuel, including 2000 tonnes of fuel oil and 240 tonnes of diesel oil, and hundreds of containers, with 143 carrying International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) cargo, such as flammable liquids and solids, as per Onmanorama: 40% of fire on burning MV Wan Hai put out, ship drifting away from Kerala coast.

The fire was preceded by multiple explosions, with the crew reporting the incident around 9:30 AM local time on June 9, as noted in BBC: Officials race to tow burning ship away from India coast. The cause of the explosion and fire has not yet been determined, adding to the complexity of the situation.

Response Efforts

The Indian Coast Guard and Navy launched immediate response efforts, with the Coast Guard deploying five ships, two Dornier aircraft, and one helicopter to fight the blaze, as reported in Sky News: Fire on cargo ship off India sparks fears of ‘ecological disaster’. As of June 12, 2025, over 40% of the fire has been contained, primarily in the forward bays, though it remains active in the inner decks and near the fuel tanks, with visible flames reduced but ongoing thermal and gas risks, as per Onmanorama. The ship is now 65 nautical miles off the Indian coastline, beyond the 1000m depth contour, and is unmanned and adrift, drifting south-southeasterly at 1 knot, still emitting smoke.

Efforts to tow the ship away from the coast are ongoing, with attempts to establish a tow line planned after the fire is fully extinguished, likely at the stern or bow, as detailed in Onmanorama. Resources engaged include 5 tugs and support vessels for firefighting and container recovery, with the tug Saroja Blessing equipped with 80 kg of foam and expected to load an additional 1000 kg of foam compound. Fire extinguishing agents like foam and dry chemical powder are ensured, and international support from firefighting specialists from Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands is expected within the next 2 days, as per Onmanorama.

The Indian authorities are focused on preventing the vessel from drifting towards the coastline, as mentioned in ABC News: Indian authorities attempt to tow container ship on fire with dangerous cargo, to mitigate the risk of ecological disaster.

Ecological Concerns

The ship’s cargo, including hazardous materials, poses a significant risk to the marine environment, described as a “serious risk” and efforts are underway to prevent a “potential ecological disaster,” as noted in Sky News. Some containers have fallen into the sea and are drifting southeast, with recovery led by salvage teams, and discussions are ongoing about sinking containers that pose navigational threats, as per Onmanorama. The fuel onboard, located adjacent to the fire zone, adds to the risk, with 2000 tonnes of fuel oil and 240 tonnes of diesel oil reported.

This incident is the second major shipping disaster off Kerala’s coast in less than three weeks, following the sinking of the Liberian-flagged MSC ELSA 3 on May 24, 2025, 38 nautical miles off Kerala, which carried over 600 containers, 13 of which were hazardous, as mentioned in Sky News and CNN. As of June 9, 2025, 61 containers from MSC ELSA 3 had washed ashore, none hazardous, and 51 had been removed, with an underwater operation to cap oil tanks ongoing, as per CNN.

Crew Status

Of the 22 crew members on board, 18 have been rescued, with 2 in hospital and 16 accommodated in a hotel in New Mangalore, as per Onmanorama. Four crew members are still missing, with search operations conducted by Coast Guard vessels Rajdoot, Arnvesh, and Abhinav, as detailed in BBC and Onmanorama. The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) has sent a team to assist with the rescue, as noted in BBC.

Public and Media Reaction

Media coverage, including CNN, BBC, and Sky News, has framed this as a critical environmental and maritime safety issue, with calls for robust salvage operations. Public reaction, inferred from news reports, shows concern over the potential ecological impact and the safety of the missing crew members.

Comparative Context

This incident follows a pattern of maritime incidents off Kerala’s coast, with the recent MSC ELSA 3 sinking highlighting ongoing challenges in managing hazardous cargo ships in the region. The frequency of such events has raised questions about maritime safety regulations and environmental preparedness, as noted in Onmanorama.

Detailed Breakdown

To organize the wealth of information, the following tables summarize key details and responses:

This incident underscores the complexities of maritime safety and environmental protection, with ongoing efforts to mitigate the risks and ensure the safety of the region.