Kochi (Kerala) [India], June 12 (ANI): The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is continuing its intensive firefighting operation aboard the Singaporean container vessel MV WAN HAI 503, battling persistent internal heat and smoke under challenging sea conditions off the Kerala coast.
On Thursday, a specialised aerial firefighting team — comprising a pilot and two aircrew divers — was deployed onboard an Indian Air Force MI-17 helicopter, successfully dispersing 1,000 kg of Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) directly onto the fire’s core.
Despite the external fire having been extinguished, dense smoke continues to rise from the vessel, suggesting lingering internal heat and the possibility of metallic fires. In response, all ICG assets remain on high alert to ensure total containment of the blaze.
The Coast Guard is maintaining the vessel’s position via towline to mitigate environmental hazards near the shoreline while continuously monitoring the vessel’s condition. The cargo ship, which caught fire on June 9, is carrying an estimated 1.2 lakh metric tons of fuel and hundreds of containers, including hazardous materials, posing a severe risk to marine ecology and regional shipping routes.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the MV WAN HAI 503 continues to drift southeast within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), about 42 nautical miles off Beypore, Kerala. Earlier, on Tuesday, five salvage team members and an aircrew diver were winched down onto the vessel to facilitate towing operations.
A total of five ICG ships, two Dornier aircraft, and one helicopter are currently engaged in the firefighting mission. These efforts are being coordinated with two vessels from the Directorate General of Shipping, while a salvage team appointed by the ship’s owners is working in tandem with the Coast Guard.
Given the potential ecological disaster, the Indian Air Force has also been requested for additional aerial firefighting support. Authorities are working urgently to secure and tow the vessel away from the coastline.
With the fire still active in the inner decks and near fuel storage areas, the situation remains critical, and constant surveillance is being maintained to avert a broader environmental crisis. (ANI)
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