Following the sinking of ELSA 3 off the Kerala coast last month, another maritime accident reported when a Singapore flagged container ship Wan Hai 503 caught fire on board about 88 nautical miles from the coast of Beypore. It is reported that some containers fell into the sea following explosion on board.
The Indian Coast Guard swiftly responded to the distress alert from the ship on Monday morning following an explosion and a subsequent fire onboard. The vessel had departed the port of Colombo with 22 crew onboard on June 6 for the Nhava Sheva Port in Mumbai with an estimated time of arrival June 9.
The officials said the fire has been reported to have spread to other containers, and the crew has abandoned the vessel onto life rafts. ICG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Mumbai, diverted MV One Marvel to the spot.
Of the 18 crew in the lifeboat, one is reported to have sustained serious injuries. Four crew (2 Taiwanese, 1 Indonesian and 1 Myanmarese) are missing from the time of the explosion. ICG Dornier aircraft is maintaining overhead the vessel for real-time assessment.
The vessel is presently adrift and firefighting efforts by the Coast Guard have commenced to bring the situation under control. The details of the cargo onboard are being ascertained to determine the nature of fire and the potential risks involved during firefighting operations, the officials said.
The fire poses a significant risk of further explosions and potential structural compromise. Any drifting containers or subsequent hazards to navigation will be assessed only after Coast Guard ships return after rescue operations. All nearby traffic has been alerted to maintain safe CPA and speed reductions in the vicinity, the officials said.
At present, the vessel is far from shore and all efforts will be undertaken to deter the vessel from closing in to the coast in coordination with stakeholders, the officials added.
According to DG Shipping officials, owners have been requested to promptly assess and report the nature of the cargo in the affected hold to ascertain the presence of any hazardous material. No information has yet been received on whether dangerous goods were involved in the explosion. Instructions have been issued for the urgent appointment of salvage/firefighting experts, early assessment of the cargo involved in the affected hold.