**Summary:**
On June 11, 2025, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) intensified operations to combat a fire aboard the Singaporean container vessel MV Wan Hai 503, which has been drifting off the Kerala coast since June 9, 2025. The ICG winched salvage team members onto the vessel to aid towing operations. The vessel, carrying 2,128 metric tons of fuel and numerous containers, including hazardous materials, poses a significant threat to the marine environment and shipping lanes within India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). While ICG firefighting efforts have reduced visible flames, the fire persists in inner decks near fuel tanks. The ICG, supported by the Directorate General of Shipping and a salvage team, is working to extinguish the fire, establish a towline, and prevent an ecological disaster. The Indian Air Force has been requested to provide additional aerial support. The situation is considered critical and is under constant monitoring.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Defence: Governmental organization responsible for defense.
ICG: Indian Coast Guard, a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency.
Kerala Coast: The coastal region of Kerala, India, where the incident occurred.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi, the source of the information.
June 11, 2025: Date of the press release and some events.
MV Wan Hai 503: Singaporean container vessel that caught fire.
Singaporean: Relating to Singapore
June 09, 2025: Date when the vessel caught fire.
India: Country within whose Exclusive Economic Zone the vessel is drifting.
Exclusive Economic Zone: Area extending 200 nautical miles from a country's baseline, within which it has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources
EEZ: Abbreviation of Exclusive Economic Zone
Beypore, Kerala: Location approximately 42 nautical miles from where the vessel is drifting.
Directorate General of Shipping: Organization that provided vessels to support the firefighting mission.
Indian Air Force: Requested for additional aerial support
SRKB: Initials possibly representing the author or issuing entity of the release.
2135826: Release ID
Ministry of Defence
ICG Intensifies Operations as Burning Container
Vessel Drifts Off Kerala Coast
Posted On: 11 JUN 2025 8:56PM by PIB Delhi
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on June 11, 2025, winched five salvage team members and an aircrew diver
onto the burning Singaporean-container vessel MV Wan Hai 503 to facilitate towing operations. The vessel,
which caught fire off the Kerala coast on June 09, 2025, continues to drift south-east within India’s Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ), approximately 42 nautical miles from Beypore, Kerala.
The vessel is carrying 2,128 metric tons of fuel and hundreds of containers, including hazardous
cargo, posing a serious risk to the marine environment and regional shipping routes. Intensive
firefighting efforts by ICG have significantly reduced visible flames, with only smoke now seen
across the cargo holds and bays. However, the fire remains active in the inner decks and near fuel
tanks.
Five ICG ships, two Dornier aircraft, and a helicopter are engaged in the ongoing firefighting
mission, supported by two vessels from the Directorate General of Shipping. A salvage team
appointed by the ship’s owners is working in coordination with ICG, and the Indian Air Force has
been requested for additional aerial support.
With the fire yet to be fully extinguished, efforts to establish a towline and pull the vessel away from
the coast are underway to prevent a potential ecological disaster. The situation remains critical and
is being monitored continuously.
****
SR/KB
(Release ID: 2135826)