Explosion reported on Singapore-flagged container ship off Kerala coast, Coast Guard responds

KOCHI: A Singapore-flagged container ship, MV WAN HAI 503, which was on passage from Colombo to Nhava Sheva, reported an underdeck explosion in position 315, Kochi 130, according to the Indian Coast Guard PRO.

As per the information, five crew members have been injured whereas four have gone missing. The ship was carrying a total of 22 crew members, and the CGDO, who was on the task, has been diverted for further assessment.

Around 9:30 am, the Indian Coast Guard received a distress alert from the Singapore-flagged container vessel. The vessel had departed the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, with 22 crew on board on June 5, for the Nhava Sheva Port, Mumbai, India, with an estimated time of arrival of June 9.

Quick response by @IndiaCoastGuard after explosion on #Singapore flagged MV #WANHAI503, 130 NM NW of #Kerala coast.
#ICG aircraft assessed the scene & dropped air-droppable
04 #ICG ships diverted for rescue.#MaritimeSafety #ICG #SearchAndRescue pic.twitter.com/xVPEShbU8h

— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) June 9, 2025

ICG assets were diverted immediately and are coordinating rescue operations for the crew. ICG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Mumbai, diverted MV One Marvel, which recovered 18 of the crew. Of the 18 crew rescued, one is reported to have sustained serious injuries. Four crew members (02 Taiwanese, 01 Indonesian and 01 Myanmarese) are missing from the time of the explosion, and their search is in progress.

ICG Dornier aircraft is maintaining overhead the vessel for real-time assessment. The vessel is presently adrift, and firefighting efforts by the Indian Coast Guard have commenced to bring the situation under control. ICGS Rajdoot off New Mangalore, ICGS Arnvesh off Kochi and ICGS Sachet off Agatti have also been diverted for assistance.

“MV WAN HAI 503 on passage from Colombo to Nhava Sheva reported an explosion under deck in position 315, Kochi 130. 04 crew reported missing and 05 crew injured. The ship was carrying containerised cargo with a total crew of 22. CGDO on task diverted for assessment. ICGS Rajdoot off New Mangalore, ICGS Arnvesh off Kochi & ICGS Sachet off Agatti diverted for assistance”, the Indian Coast Guard PRO said in its statement.

The Indian Navy also diverted INS Surat, which was scheduled to enter Kochi, was diverted by the Western Naval Command to assist the distressed vessel.

Earlier, it was reported that a cargo ship caught fire off the coast of Beypore in Kozhikode on Monday. The vessel was a Singapore-flagged container ship, which is 270 m long with a draught of 12.5 m, according to the statement by the Coast Guard PRO. (ANI)