A Singapore-flagged cargo ship, MV Wan Hai 503, caught fire off the Kerala coast, leading to urgent rescue efforts and raising environmental concerns.
Cargo Ship Blaze Near Kerala Coast Leaves Four Missing and Eighteen Rescued
Cargo Ship Blaze Near Kerala Coast Leaves Four Missing and Eighteen Rescued
Cargo vessel fire prompts rescue operation and environmental alerts in the Arabian Sea near India.
The article text follows:
The Indian Coast Guard and Navy are engaged in a critical mission to control a fire that ignited on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship MV Wan Hai 503 in the Arabian Sea, just off the southern coast of India. The incident occurred on Monday while the ship was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Mumbai, India, with reports indicating that an internal explosion in one of the ship's containers sparked the blaze.
As of now, 18 of the 22 crew members have been rescued, but the fate of four remains uncertain. There is collaboration from the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority, which has dispatched a team to support the ongoing search efforts. The missing crew members include two from Taiwan, one from Myanmar, and one from Indonesia.
Footage captured shows the MV Wan Hai 503 billowing smoke while the rescue teams combat the raging fire. Despite these efforts, the Coast Guard has reported continued flames and explosions emanating from the vessel. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued warnings concerning the risks of an oil spill and debris impacting the coastline due to the ship losing 50 containers into the sea.
The cargo ship was transporting an estimated 100 tonnes of bunker fuel, with concerns raised about potential hazards to local ecosystems and marine life. Given the delicate biodiversity along the Kerala coastline, urgency is heightened following a similar incident three weeks prior where another vessel sank, prompting the state government to implement fishing bans and offer compensation to affected fishing communities.
The situation is evolving, with the coastal alert remaining in effect as authorities work tirelessly to ensure the safety of both personnel and the environment.
The Indian Coast Guard and Navy are engaged in a critical mission to control a fire that ignited on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship MV Wan Hai 503 in the Arabian Sea, just off the southern coast of India. The incident occurred on Monday while the ship was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Mumbai, India, with reports indicating that an internal explosion in one of the ship's containers sparked the blaze.
As of now, 18 of the 22 crew members have been rescued, but the fate of four remains uncertain. There is collaboration from the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority, which has dispatched a team to support the ongoing search efforts. The missing crew members include two from Taiwan, one from Myanmar, and one from Indonesia.
Footage captured shows the MV Wan Hai 503 billowing smoke while the rescue teams combat the raging fire. Despite these efforts, the Coast Guard has reported continued flames and explosions emanating from the vessel. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued warnings concerning the risks of an oil spill and debris impacting the coastline due to the ship losing 50 containers into the sea.
The cargo ship was transporting an estimated 100 tonnes of bunker fuel, with concerns raised about potential hazards to local ecosystems and marine life. Given the delicate biodiversity along the Kerala coastline, urgency is heightened following a similar incident three weeks prior where another vessel sank, prompting the state government to implement fishing bans and offer compensation to affected fishing communities.
The situation is evolving, with the coastal alert remaining in effect as authorities work tirelessly to ensure the safety of both personnel and the environment.
