Singapore flagged cargo ship catches fire off Kerala coast

By Admin

10 Jun, 2025

A major maritime incident unfolded on Monday morning off the Kerala coast when a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel, WAN HAI 503, caught fire in the Arabian Sea. The 268.8-metre-long container ship was sailing approximately 40 km west of the Beypore-Azhikkal port near Kozhikode when the fire broke out.

Fire Breaks Out Mid-Sea

The vessel, which was en route from Colombo to Mumbai, was expected to transfer its cargo onto a mother ship at the Nhava Sheva port. According to initial reports, the ship was moving at a speed of 14 nautical miles and was carrying around 650 containers. As the flames engulfed part of the vessel, about 50 containers were reportedly lost to the sea.

There were 22 crew members on board at the time of the incident. Disturbingly, 18 of them had to jump into the sea to escape the fire. Several crew members sustained burn injuries, and the exact details of their rescue are still awaited.

Swift Emergency Response

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took immediate action, instructing the district collectors of Kozhikode and Ernakulam to prepare hospitals for the treatment of the injured crew once they reach the shore.

The Indian Coast Guard has launched a rescue and containment operation, deploying three interceptor boats from Kochi and additional teams from Beypore. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has sent Dornier aircraft to assist with aerial monitoring and emergency response.

Series of Maritime Incidents Raise Concerns

This latest maritime emergency comes just weeks after another serious incident in Kerala waters. The Liberian-flagged container ship MSC ELSA 3 sank off the Ernakulam-Alappuzha coast after tilting dangerously while en route from Vizhinjam to Cochin Port.

Notably, a similar fire incident occurred in 2021 involving the container ship MSC Messina, which caught fire while sailing from Colombo to Singapore.

Maritime Safety Under Scrutiny

The back-to-back incidents have raised concerns about maritime safety and emergency preparedness in the region. With increasing cargo traffic and volatile cargo loads, the spotlight is now on ensuring strict compliance with safety standards, better fire prevention mechanisms, and faster response strategies in Indian waters.