Containership WAN HAI 503 Relocated After Tragic Blaze Near India's Waters

According to a recent report from maritime sources,the MV WAN HAI 503,a containership registered in singapore,has been successfully towed beyond India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and is currently positioned about 130 nautical miles off the coast of Kochi. This follows a devastating fire incident that occurred last month. As of June 30, the vessel was maintaining a steady course at 290° with a speed of just 0.8 knots, thanks to coordinated towing efforts by Offshore warrior.

While light smoke continues to rise from cargo hold number four, officials have confirmed that there are no visible flames at this time. They noted that even tho the fire situation appears under control with only minor smoke observed, the presence of plastic materials in cargo hold four still poses potential smoldering hazards.efforts are underway to remove water from the flooded engine room and adjacent compartments using five active pumps.The source of this water intrusion is believed to be linked between the engine room and cargo hold three.

A multi-agency response team is on site with several vessels assisting in these operations. Additional support is being provided by Atlantis Virgo and SCI Panna,which are en route carrying firefighting equipment along with 7,000 liters of Pyrocool—an agent expected to bolster fire suppression efforts significantly.

Officials have reported positive outcomes from ongoing dewatering operations; however, they emphasize that complete removal of water is crucial for assessing damage within machinery spaces and restoring emergency power systems effectively.

Discussions regarding potential ports for refuge are actively taking place as necessary documentation moves through formal channels. Yet final approvals hinge on ensuring vessel stability while extinguishing any remaining smoldering risks and achieving safe dewatering conditions.

The incident initially unfolded on June 9 when multiple explosions rocked the ship leading to fires onboard; this resulted in approximately 40 containers tumbling into the Arabian Sea and compelled crew members to evacuate. out of the total crew count of 22 individuals aboard at that time, only four remain unaccounted for—two hailing from Taiwan, one from Myanmar, and another from Indonesia—with search operations still ongoing for them.

The MV WAN HAI 503 now finds itself situated within a busy shipping lane between Sri Lanka and Gulf Aden—a factor necessitating continuous traffic alerts for nearby vessels. The Indian Coast Guard continues its aerial surveillance alongside maritime monitoring efforts throughout this critical operation.

This vessel belongs to Wan Hai Line’s Singaporean division but details surrounding what caused those initial explosions or specifics about its cargo remain undisclosed by authorities at this point.