Explosion hits Singapore-flagged ship off Kerala coast, 4 missing, Indian Navy sends help | Watch

A Singapore-flagged container ship, MV Wan Hai 503, en route to Mumbai, reported an explosion while sailing off the coast of Kerala on Monday morning, reported PTI, quoting a Defence PRO.

The PRO stated that of the 18 crew members rescued, one is reported to have sustained serious injuries. Four crew members – two Taiwanese, one Indonesian and one Myanmarese – are missing from the time of the explosion, and the search is in progress.

According to the report, the underdeck blast was first reported at around 10.30 am by the Maritime Operations Centre in Mumbai to its counterparts in Kochi.

On 7 June, the 270-metre-long vessel, with a draught of 12.5 metres, had left Colombo and was expected to arrive in Mumbai on 10 June.

"On 09 Jun 25, at about 1030 h, MOC (Koc) received an information from MOC (Mbi) about a reported underdeck explosion onboard MV Wan Hai 503. The vessel is a Singapore Flag Container ship, 270 m long and draught 12.5m with LPC Colombo," PTI quoted the PRO as saying in a communication.

To provide immediate assistance, the Indian Navy diverted INS Surat, which had been scheduled to dock in Kochi. Also, the Western Naval Command redirected the vessel at 11 am.

A Navy Dornier aircraft sortie is also being planned from the naval air station INS Garuda in Kochi to assess the situation and coordinate support.

What did the Coast Guard say?

Commenting on the incident, the Indian Coast Guard said, as quoted by ANI, “At around 0930 hrs today, the Indian Coast Guard received a distress alert from the Singapore-flagged container vessel Wan Hai 503, regarding an explosion and subsequent fire onboard one of the containers, 88 Nautical miles from the coast of Beypore. The vessel had departed the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, with 22 crew onboard on 06 Jun25, for the Nhava Sheva Port, Mumbai, India, with an estimated time of arrival on 9th June. On receipt of information, ICG assets were diverted immediately and are coordinating rescue operations for the crew.”

"As of 1240 hrs, the resulting fire has been reported to have spread to other containers, and the crew has abandoned the vessel into life rafts. 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. 04 crew (02 Taiwanese, 01 Indonesian and 01 Myanmarese) are missing from the time of explosion and their search is in progress. ICG Dornier aircraft is maintaining overhead the vessel for real-time assessment."

Meanwhile, the authorities are trying to determine the nature of the fire and the potential risks involved during firefighting operations.

"The vessel is presently adrift, and firefighting efforts by the Indian Coast Guard have commenced to bring the situation under control," the Indian Coast Guard said, adding that saving the lives of the crew in distress, firefighting and mitigating environmental hazards remain its top priority.

With agency inputs.