Four missing in Wan Hai boxship fire off India

FOUR seafarers are still missing after an explosion was reported on a containership off the Indian coast.

Singapore-flagged, 4,252 teu, Wan Hai Lines-owned Wan Hai 503 (IMO: 9294862) was en route to Mumbai from Colombo, when an explosion occurred at around 1230 hrs on June 9 and a fire broke out on board.

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#SearchAndRescuepic.twitter.com/xVPEShbU8h

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

The Indian Navy diverted warship INS Surat to attend the scene 78 nautical miles off Beypore, on India’s southwest coast. A search and rescue aircraft was also dispatched by the Indian coastguard.

Of the 22-strong crew, 18 have been accounted for and are in the process of being transferred from lifeboats to passing vessels, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore confirmed. Five injuries have also been reported.

Four seafarers remain missing, with search and rescue operations ongoing.

A Lloyd’s Agent in the region has reported that 40 of the vessel’s containers fell into the ocean as a result of the explosion.

At the time of writing, Wan Hai 503 remained alight and firefighting operations were ongoing.