Kochi: A Singapore-flagged container vessel, MV WAN HAI 503, en route from Colombo to Nhava Sheva, experienced an underdeck explosion near the Kerala coast, Indian Coast Guard officials confirmed. The incident has left five crew members injured and four missing, prompting a coordinated rescue operation.

The explosion occurred on Monday at approximately 9:30 am, at position 315, Kochi 130, while the vessel was in passage from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Nhava Sheva Port, Mumbai. The ship was carrying 22 crew members at the time.

According to the Indian Coast Guard Public Relations Officer (PRO), "MV WAN HAI 503 on passage from Colombo to Nhava Sheva reported an explosion under deck in position 315, Kochi 130. 04 crew reported missing and 05 crew injured. The ship was carrying containerised cargo with a total crew of 22. CGDO on task diverted for assessment. ICGS Rajdoot off New Mangalore, ICGS Arnvesh off Kochi & ICGS Sachet off Agatti diverted for assistance."

Rescue operations underway

Following the distress alert, the Indian Coast Guard swiftly deployed assets to assist. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai diverted MV One Marvel, which has so far rescued 18 crew members. Among those rescued, one crew member sustained serious injuries.

The four missing crew include two Taiwanese, one Indonesian, and one Myanmarese member, and search efforts remain ongoing. An Indian Coast Guard Dornier aircraft continues to maintain aerial surveillance for real-time assessment of the situation.

At present, the MV WAN HAI 503 remains adrift off the Kerala coast. Firefighting operations are actively being carried out by the Indian Coast Guard to bring the blaze under control.

Additional Coast Guard vessels, including ICGS Rajdoot near New Mangalore, ICGS Arnvesh off Kochi, and ICGS Sachet off Agatti, have been diverted to provide further assistance.

The Indian Navy has also responded promptly. INS Surat, which was scheduled to enter Kochi, was redirected by the Western Naval Command to support the rescue and firefighting operations for the distressed vessel.

Recent shipwreck incident

This incident comes days after the wreck of the nearly three-decade-old container ship MSC Elsa 3 off Kerala's coast. The Liberian-flagged vessel, which sank on May 25, was carrying more than 640 containers. The cargo manifest listed 13 containers with hazardous goods, including twelve containing calcium carbide, a reactive chemical. The Kerala government declared the wreckage a State-specific disaster.