Kochi: The cargo ship WAN HAI 503, which caught fire in the Arabian Sea earlier this week, is now drifting dangerously close to the Kochi coast, prompting a fresh response from the Indian Navy.

The ship, initially moving away from the coastline, began drifting back toward land due to rough seas and strong winds, officials said. In response, Navy personnel boarded the vessel again on Friday to stabilise and tow it further offshore.

The vessel has now been successfully connected to a tugboat, Offshore Warrior, after previous attempts by the Coast Guard and private rescue teams failed due to unfavourable weather. A navy helicopter was also deployed as part of the operation, with naval officers boarding the vessel and later being airlifted after completing their task.

Although the fire on board has been largely brought under control, authorities confirmed that smoke continues to rise from the ship, indicating lingering hotspots.

Rescue and containment efforts are ongoing, with both naval and coast guard units on high alert, as authorities continue to work to avert any environmental or navigational threats along the Kerala coastline.