Efforts still continue to shift the container ship Wan Hai 503, which caught fire following an explosion off Beypore coast, to a safer position further offshore to prevent potential environmental and coastal impact.

The deteriorating sea state significantly increases the urgency to stabilise the vessel as rough sea conditions and extremely heavy rainfall are expected over Kerala as per weather forecasts, DG Shipping said.

The vessel remains structurally afloat but continues to pose significant hazards due to the ongoing fire, and quantities of heavy fuel oil (HFO) and diesel oil onboard. The continued heat generation near the fuel tanks and IMDG compartments presents serious risk of further escalation if not fully stabilised. While fire containment has improved, the situation remains sensitive to weather and operational factors.

The vessel remains afloat but unmanned and continues to drift in a southeast direction, presently located approximately 38 to 40 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. Firefighting efforts have substantially reduced active flames, with approximately 40 per cent of the fire now suppressed. The Indian Coast Guard has been working on mitigating the fire, dropping dry chemical powder (DCP) using an IAF MI-17 helicopter.

However, heavy grey and black smoke continues to emit from the forward cargo holds, where heat zones remain active. Salvage teams onboard have confirmed persistent hotspots requiring continuous boundary cooling, DG Shipping said.

The vessel’s drift trajectory at a steady pace of 1.5-2 knots continues to pose potential coastal risk. A tow has been connected to the Coast Guard vessel to control the drift and move it away from the Indian shoreline. However, efforts are being made to connect the tow-line to Offshore Warrior which is a higher bollard pull AHTS, the officials said.

Published on June 13, 2025